Fall River man charged with robbing 3 stores within 30 minutes

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A Fall River man has been arrested and charged for robbing three city stores within a half hour.

45-year-old William Bruce of Fall River was arrested and charged with armed robbery and two counts of unarmed robbery.

On Thursday, July 18 units responded to the Maplewood Mini Mart on Stafford Road regarding an armed robbery.

According to officials, responding officers were advised that a white male wearing a green t-shirt and green hat entered the business and demanded money from the cash register.

Police said that the male left the business in an unknown direction after obtaining an unknown amount of money from the register.

While officers were still speaking with the clerk at Maplewood Mini Mart a second robbery was reported at County Convenience on County Street.

Police said officers who responded to that location were advised that the suspect was a white male wearing a green t-shirt and green hat.

According to the clerk, the male told him that he was robbing the store and instructed him to open the cash register.

Shortly after, the clerk alerted a third party that his store was being robbed and asked them to contact the police.

The suspect then ran from the story.

While investigating the robbery at County Convenience, police said officers were able to identify the vehicle being used by the suspect, a white minivan.

Police said shortly after, a third call came in reporting that a male in a green t-shirt and green hat had entered the Family Dollar on Stafford Road and asked for all the
money in the cashier’s drawer.

When asked to clarify his statement, the suspect indicated he just wanted to see her reaction and he left the business.

The clerk explained that the male left the business in a white minivan.

An officer later located the individual and he was taken into custody without incident.