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by Bob_Ward from Dedham

Last Post 2 days, 15 hours Ago


NE UNSOLVED ARREST!
Jul 10, 2008 | 9:42 PM
Category: News
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There's been an arrest in one of our New England's Unsolved cases. And it's one of the strangest cases we've ever featured.

Today the FBI arrested 26-year-old Daniel Almeida on federal bank robbery charges for the May 2007 robbery of the East Cambridge Savings Bank on Highland Avenue.

Only FOX25 was there when Almeida was busted. And if you click HERE you'll see just how happy he was to see us.

But let me tell you. This was no ordinary bank robbery.

On May 26, 2007, employees at the branch arrived to find one of the tellers tied up with duct tape to a chair. The bank's vault was stripped of nearly ALL of its cash. The FBI told me it was a substantial amount of money taken.

But there's still so much more.

The teller claims this all started the NIGHT BEFORE!

She said she was kidnapped at a package store in Woburn. She said a gunman recognized her from the bank and slid into her car and ordered her to drive to the East Cambridge Savings Bank and open the vault. She said when she told the gunman the vault is on a timer, he ordered her to drive, for hours, until the timer opened the vault.

The teller said the gunman threatened that he had a partner and that his partner would kill her children if she didn't obey him. So they drove. Through Everett, Revere, Boston. She said they stopped twice. Once at projects in Medford. And later at the Mishewam Projects in Charlestown. At Mishewam, the teller said, a police officer drove by, so the gunman made her leave.

During this entire trip, the teller said, she never saw the gunman because he ordered the rear view mirror tilted the other way.

Once at the bank, the teller says the gunman ordered her to duct tape the security cameras. Then he ordered her to empty the vault, giving her two black duffle bags to fill up.

Bags loaded, the gunman ordered the teller to sit in a chair facing a wall, and he taped her up.

The teller told investigators the only glimpse she had of the guy was a blue medical glove.

When I first reported on this case, the FBI gave me exclusive access to surveillance images taken outside the bank. And they revealed a blurry image of a man running behind the branch.

Today, the FBI arrested Daniel Almeida. The feds say he is the guy who kidnapped the teller, robbed the bank, and is seen in the fuzzy surveillance picture.

And, if convicted, Almeida is looking at twenty years.

But this isn't the end of the case. The FBI tells me more arrests are possible.

I told you this was a strange story!

What do you think?

Bob Ward
7 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 7
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legendkiller34 read my blog
Jul 10, 2008 | 11:17 PM

Bob,
Not for nothing, but this case "SMELLS FUNNY"
from the beginning.
You said it happened the night before
when the gunman made the woman drive around and around until the vault opened.
All the while telling her his partener would kill her children if she didn't obey.
I don't know about you but if some guy gets in my car and tells me "I want you to drive around and if you don't obey my partener
who's nowhere to be seen will hurt your family"
The only place I'm driving to is the nearest
police station, all the while LAYING ON MY CAR HORN,
I'm not a detective,(however I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night) LOL
no serious, I'm not a detective but
this case stinks from the beginning,
I'm thinking there is more to this story that will come out.
tom1964
Jul 11, 2008 | 7:22 AM

Yeah really strange, I think we may see the teller getting arrested soon.
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jul 11, 2008 | 8:00 AM

I think your reporting is a service to your community.
jonsmom read my blog view my photos
Jul 11, 2008 | 10:17 AM

I was wondering the same thing. The teller made no mention of a cell phone. And how, if he got in her car at the liquor store, could she have not seen him before she tilted the rear view mirror. Odd, very odd. Also very strange how he "recognized" her from the bank which is in Cambridge (?) yet they're both in Woburn. Defninitely strange. I too expect this teller may have had something to do with this whole thing.
kayleisnana read my blog view my photos
Jul 14, 2008 | 4:54 PM

If I'm not mistaken, Bob, didn't you blog on this when it originally occurred? If I remember correctly, I commented at that time that I thought, somehow, that teller was involved. Why would a bank robber FORCE someone to drive around for hours, then rob the bank and let her go afterwards? Something definitely is not right there!!! How did he just happen to CHOOSE her? I still think she was involved.
divmoose3
Jul 20, 2008 | 9:11 AM

I agree with you all. The teller must have seen the person at some point before the rearview mirror was moved. Please! And, how did he know she had enough gas to drive around for hours? She is very likely in on this, too.
Bob_Ward read my blog view my photos
Jul 20, 2008 | 8:30 PM

Hi Kayleisnana,

Yes I did blog about this before. And even with this arrest, I have the same questions I did a year ago.

We'll see what happens next.

Thanks all for your interest in these stories. I love reading your comments!

Bob
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Bob_Ward

I am a reporter/anchor specializing in crime and regular features such as New England's Unsolved and Mass Most Wanted.

Member Since: 10/16/2006


 

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