Draft:Route 91 Bandit

The Route 91 Bandit is the moniker of an American serial bank robber who committed 14 bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery along Interstate 91 in the states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Vermont between September 2021 and August 2022.

2021
At around 10:21 a.m. on September 9, 2021, the perpetrator, wearing a brown hat, gray jacket, gray shorts, white sneakers, and a surgical mask, walked into the Aarha Credit Union in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Upon making his way to the front of the bank, he passed the teller a note demanding money. After receiving $5,000, he exited the bank and fled the scene.

Using a similar method, he robbed the American Eagle Credit Union in Enfield, Connecticut, on September 20, 2021. Wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans, sneakers, and a face mask, he entered the bank at 11:50 a.m. and handed the teller a note demanding large bills. He later fled on foot after receiving $7,950.

The robber struck again on October 4, 2021, this time robbing a People's United bank in Brattleboro, Vermont. By the time police arrived at 4:07 p.m., he had already fled with $11,000 in a silver Nissan sedan with tinted windows. He was last seen headed southbound on Route 5.

Between October 15 and 22, 2021, the bandit robbed two Webster banks in East Windsor and Somers, Connecticut. In the latter bank robbery, he passed the teller a note that stated, "no dye pac I have a gun." He was seen driving away in a gray Nissan Versa. The two bank robberies were quickly connected, and the Connecticut Bankers Reward Association offered a reward of $500 for information leading to the suspect's arrest.

At 3:18 p.m. on November 5, 2021, another bank robbery occurred at the Workers Credit Union in Athol, Massachusetts. The perpetrator entered the bank at 3:08 p.m. and demanded money from three employees, who obliged. During the holdup, the suspect wore a sweatshirt for Post University, a college in Waterbury, Connecticut. The back of the sweatshirt read, "No Hall Like Ohall 2016-2017," which likely refers to Okinga Hall, a dormitory on the University's campus. He also wore a vintage Red Sox hat and a medical mask.

At about 8:46 a.m. on November 20, 2021, the perpetrator robbed a Savings Bank in Keene, New Hampshire. The bandit, wearing a gray sweatshirt, dark-colored pants, a surgical mask, and gloves, entered the bank and gave the teller a note stating that he had a gun. After the employee handed him $7,000, he fled. At the time, there were seven employees in the bank and no customers. Police did a K-9 search of the area, but it yielded no results. The suspect also robbed a Liberty Bank in Avon, Connecticut, the day before.

The next bank robbery occurred in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, on December 16, 2021. The bandit passed the teller a note and made off with $5,990.

Suspect
On December 1, 2022, a suspect from Chicopee, Massachusetts was arrested. He was identified as a suspect after robbing the People's United Bank in Plainville, Connecticut in May 2022. That October, authorities followed the suspect to the MGM Springfield and collected a straw from a drink he discarded. DNA on the straw matched DNA found on the money wrappers he had left behind in the Plainville robbery. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.