Did Stop N Save Robber Attempt Another Armed Robbery in Stoneham?

A masked gunman attempting to rob a Main Street gas station Tuesday night may be the same suspect in two previous robberies at the on Franklin Street, according to .

At about 8:40 p.m., Stoneham officers responded to , 308 Main St., on a report of an attempted armed robbery.

"The front door of the gas station was locked and the suspect tried to gain entry but obviously the door was locked," said Police chief Richard Bongiorno. "He demanded entry, showed a large black handgun and tried to get the door open."

The clerk inside ran to back of the gas station and called 911 shortly before the gunman fled on foot, according to Bongiorno.

Following the Trail

"Police set up a perimeter and began a search and called in the State Police and Burlington police K9 units to possibly get a scent," said the police chief. "The State Trooper tracked a scent to the rear of an adjacent and then over by Central Street and  where the dog lost the scent.

"We believe there was a getaway car in that area and the suspect got away in that car." 

The suspect was reportedly wearing a black mask and black hoodie, and "we do believe it's the same description as the suspect in the prior armed robberies at the Stop N Save on Franklin Street," according to Bongiorno.

Past Robberies

Unlike the armed robberies on Jan. 12 and at Stop N Save, police don't have or video to help with the gas station investigation but do have one witness, according to Bongiorno.

Clerks at the Stop N Save believe the same man stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the store both times, with the only difference being the mask he wore. In the first robbery, the suspect reportedly wore a Joker mask, while the second time he was seen wearing a black net-like mask, according to the clerks, which police believe is similar to the one worn during the attempted armed robbery at the gas station.

On April 14, the suspect fled the convenience store heading in the direction of on Franklin Street. The suspect's vehicle is believed to be an older-model dark-colored, possibly black, Nissan Altima, according to police.

Stepping Up Patrols

Police have increased patrols at gas stations and convenience stores given the recent armed robberies, according to Bongiorno.

Stoneham detectives will be checking with nearby police departments to see if the gas station gunman may have been involved in similar criminal activity in their communities, according to Bongiorno. 

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, no arrests had been made.

If you have information related to the case or know the person captured in the surveillance image captured during the April 14 armed robbery at Stop N Save, contact the Stoneham Police Department at 781-438-1215. Tips can be left anonymously.