Police: Man Considers Robbing Hingham and Braintree Banks, Gets Arrested

A man wearing a hat and a hood and holding what police say was a robbery note, walked into the TD Bank in Hingham on Wednesday. And although he left the bank without making a real attempt to rob it, he was arrested outside by Hingham police.

Lucas Vito Gravina, 28, was taken into custody just before 6 p.m. on Wednesday and charged with an attempt to commit a crime (unarmed robbery) and unarmed assault to rob.

Hingham police say a man matching Gravina's description was also spotted at the TD Bank in Braintree on Wednesday. Staff members at that branch sent out an internal bulletin that a possible robber had entered the bank but left before speaking to any tellers. The bulletin included a photo and description of a suspect who, like Gravina, was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with a hat, as well as black pants with white stripes down the sides. He was also carrying what appeared to be a note.

When Gravina entered the Hingham branch, he approached a teller. Bank employees told police they could see his handwritten note: it read: "50s and 100s and no alarm." But once at the counter, Gravina told the teller he forgot his ID in the car and left, still holding the note.

Staff called 911 and watched Gravina walk across the parking lot and get into a car. Officer Robert Stockbridge arrived just as he was pulling away. Sgt. David Petitti was on the scene, as well. Gravina was arrested in the lot without incident. The robbery note was found in his pocket. A second note was found ripped in pieces on the floor of his vehicle.

Police also arrested Gravina on a charge of taking a license plate and illegally attaching it to a motor vehicle. He was driving a blue 2005 Chevrolet Aveo -- it is legally registered to Gravina, but the vehicle had plates belonging to a Braintree resident. Officers later found that the license plate attached had been stolen earlier in Quincy. The car's legal license plates were found on the backseat.

Gravina was ordered held without bail by the clerk magistrate. He is being arrainged today at Hingham District Court on Thursday. Braintree Police detectives came to the Hingham Police station and are investigating similar incidents at two banks earlier on Wednesday.