Brookline Bank Robbery Suspect Tracked to RI Hotel

FBI agents arrested a Rhode Island man wanted for a series of recent bank robberies—including three in Brookline—shortly after he allegedly robbed another bank in Pawtucket, RI, yesterday.

Thomas Flannery, a 35-year-old man last thought to be living at 185 Vermont Ave. in Providence, RI, was charged with the Pawtucket robbery yesterday and held as a fugitive from justice on three Massachusetts warrants, according to an FBI press release. Flannery is wanted in connection with recent bank robberies in Boston, Brookline, Seekonk and Attleboro, authorities say.

In Brookline, Flannery is suspected of robbing a Citizens Bank branch on , a Sovereign Bank branch on Feb. 4 and a Brookline Bank branch on . Attleboro police believe Flannery also may have robbed a Citizens Bank in South Attleboro.

Det. Sgt. Art Brillon told that Flannery was arrested in 2005 for robbing the same Citizens Bank branch.

Law enforcement agencies from Massachusetts and Rhode Island reportedly tracked Flannery to a Pawtucket address yesterday, but found he had already moved to a Mariott hotel. Flannery had allegedy left the hotel in a taxi to rob the Pawtucket bank by the time officers arrived there, but was arrested "after a brief struggle" when he returned around 10:30 a.m.

Detectives seized money, a demand note, gloves and clothing used in the robber from Flannery after he was arrested, according to the FBI.

After the arrest, Mr. Flannery was initially transported to the Pawtucket Police Department, where he was fingerprinted and photographed in connectoin with the Pawtucket Credit Union robbery and Massachusetts warrants. Later, he was transported to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island where he made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond.  The defendant was ordered detained. 

Attleboro Patch editor contributed to this report.