Alleged Peabody Bank Robber To Be Charged In Two Other Robberies

PEABODY, MA -- A man who allegedly robbed a Peabody Bank of America branch Monday is facing charges in two additional robberies, according to Massachusetts State Police. In addition to that robbery, Leo Willwerth, 31, of East Boston, is expected to be charged wit the June 5 robbery of a Santander Bank in Boston and the June 7 robbery of an East Boston Savings Bank in South Boston.

Willwerth, who allegedly robbed the Peabody bank Monday by claiming he had a bomb before being captured fleeing in a taxi, has a history of robberies, including a 2013 robbery of a Haverhill bank in which he also claimed to have a bomb. Willwerth was arrested after Massachusetts State Police followed the taxi cab he was riding in with a helicopter. Police said Willwerth handed a note to the teller saying he had a bomb and was given an undisclosed amount of money.

After being seen fleeing in the cab, Peabody Police contacted the taxi company, which was able to locate the vehicle by GPS. State Police were able to follow the taxi by helicopter before it was pulled over on Route 93 near Melnea Cass Boulevard in Boston. He was arrested without incident. His arrest also included an outstanding probation warrant stemming from the 2013 warrant.

Willwerth was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, and state police are obtaining arrest warrants so he can be arraigned for the Boston bank robberies at a later of date. After being arrested he told police he had just finished serving a four-year sentence for the 2013 robbery. According to prosecutors at the arraignment, one of the bank tellers told police Willwerth was "shaking like he was on drugs" during the robbery.

On New Year's Eve in 2013, Willwerthe robbed a TD Bank branch in Haverhill. In that robbery, the then 27-year-old Wilwerth also threatened to detonate a bomb. According to police reports, Willwerth made off with $860 after handing the teller a note that read "Do not panic, we have a bomb, I got a gun, empty your drawer, no dyepacks, no trackers...safely call the cops when I exit."

Willwerth was identified as the culprit when police investigating a fraudulent return Willwerth made at a Wal-Mart in Seabrook noticed he was wearing the same clothes in Wal-Mart surveillance footage as the robber from the bank's surveillance footage.

This is a breaking news story. Patch will update as more details become available.

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2014 booking photo of Leo Willwerth by Seabrook, NH Police

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).