Crime & Safety

'Person of Interest' in TD Bank Robbery Arrested in Andover

Salem Police are working with the FBI and other local agencies.

A male who is being eyed as a suspect in the was arrested in Andover Tuesday night.


FBI and Andover Police arrested Christopher Decareau, 26, of Peabody, while he was allegedly casing a bank on Main Street in Andover on Tuesday night, according to Andover Police Lt. Harry Collins.

He was caught "going into a bank putting Band-Aids on his fingers" to conceal his fingerprints and with the same note he used in the similar bank robberies across the state, police said.

Andover Police said that Decareau was arrested as a result of a lengthy investigation by the FBI. Andover Police and FBI agents apprehended Decareau outside of a bank on Main Street in Andover yesterday and have both him and his female accomplice in custody.

Both Decareau and his female accomplice were arrested for "attempting to commit a crime" by Andover Police and were arraigned in Lawrence District Court Wednesday morning.

In addition to Salem's bank robbery, Decareau is being eyed as a suspect in the following robberies:

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  • April 25, 2011: TD Banknorth, 470 Main St., Reading
  • May 3, 2011: East Boston Savings Bank, 1755 Revere Beach Parkway, Everett
  • May 9, 2011: Eastern Bank, 771 Salem St., Lynnfield
  • May 19, 2011: Eastern Bank, 441 Main St., Melrose
  • May 25, 2011: Bank of Canton, 259 Turnpike St., Canton


said the suspect is currently of "interest" in the May 15 crime.

"We were notified of a suspect fitting the description of our suspect committing a robbery in that area," a member of SPD said. "We met with the FBI and other state and local police departments."

In a May 20 announcement, the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force described the suspect as a "serial bank robber." Most, if not all of the crimes, featured the suspect passing a note to a teller threatening harm while not actually showing a weapon, and then fleeing on foot.


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