Merrimack Valley Bandit Didn't Rob Hampton Bank, Says Police

Hampton police are pursuing tips and leads about both the bank robbery at TD Bank on Sunday and the Provident Bank robbery on April 3, although as of Monday authorities don't believe the incidents or other bank robberies throughout the region were committed by the same individual.

Hampton Police Lt. Dan Gidley said that doesn't necessarily rule out the possibility a "team" of robbers are committing the crimes, although he said he has received no information or evidence that suggests any of the crimes are related.

"I do know the TD Bank in Dracut [Mass.] got hit about an hour after us, but it doesn't appear to be the same person," said Gidley.

Gidley said Monday he couldn't comment for sure on whether the Hampton robberies — which came not long after a bank robbery in Seabrook — are or aren't connected to the so-called Merrimack Valley bandit, though, who is allegedly responsible for the Dracut crime and a string of Massachusetts robberies.

It would be "pure speculation and guesswork" to assume that, said Gidley, who suggested that the small spike in robberies may be more due to the fact that banks like TD — which are open on Sundays and longer hours than most banks — are "a target of opportunity."

That said, Gidley said he doesn't "recall getting hit twice in a week or two" before, although he said past Hampton bank robberies have occurred around the same time as similar incidents in other communities.

Anyone with information regarding this robbery or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Hampton Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 603-929-4444, Ext. 0 and ask for "Detectives."

Tips can also be called or e-mailed to the Crimeline for the Hamptons at 603-929-1222 or hamptonscrimeline@yahoo.com. The Crimeline is offering a $1,000 cash reward for information about the Hampton and Seabrook Provident Bank robberies, and Gidley said a reward will likely be offered soon for the Hampton TD Bank robbery.