Suspected apologetic bank robber caught

By Jim Patten
jpatten@eagletribune.com

October 30, 2008 01:50 am

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Hill is suspected in the following bank robberies:

Sovereign Bank branch, Stadium Plaza, Lawrence, Oct. 3.

Sovereign Bank branch, Low Street, Newburyport, Oct. 15.

Haverhill Bank branch, 1094 Main St., Haverhill, Oct. 21.

Beverly National Bank, 63 Dodge St., Beverly, Oct. 27.

LAWRENCE — A man police said robbed the Sovereign Bank branch on Route 114 using an apologetic note was arrested yesterday.

Erik Hill, 29, of 179 Abbott St., made no effort to conceal his face when he robbed the bank at Stadium Plaza and walked out with nearly $4,000 the morning of Oct. 3, investigators said.

Police Chief John Romero said Hill also confessed to three other bank robberies in Haverhill, Newburyport and Beverly.

"He was somebody we were looking at," Romero said.

Hill was arrested about 3 p.m. by Lawrence, Haverhill and state police detectives.

After his arrest, he also admitted to robbing the Haverhill Bank at 1094 Main St. in Haverhill on Oct. 21, the Sovereign Bank branch on Low Street in Newburyport on Oct. 15, and the Beverly National Bank in Beverly, on Oct. 27, police said.

During the Lawrence robbery, he passed a note to the teller saying "Sorry, give me money," before leaving the bank with the cash, police said.

He did not show a weapon during the robberies, police said.

Haverhill Deputy police Chief Donald Thompson said Hill wore an Essex County Sheriff's Department uniform during the Haverhill robbery.

"This was a joint effort between all of the departments involved, the state police and the U. S. marshals," Romero said.

He said investigators had a lead shortly after the Lawrence robbery, but pressed on with the investigation because they did not have enough evidence to arrest Hill.

Hill was arrested at his home on warrants from Haverhill and Newburyport, and returned to the Lawrence police station.

"We put it on him and he confessed," Romero said. "This guy wasn't going to stop until he got caught."

Romero said Hill told police he had a drug problem and was using the money to pay for drugs.

He was held without bail overnight for arraignment today in Lawrence District Court on a charge of unarmed robbery.

He also will face arraignments in Haverhill, Newburyport and Salem district courts in the other robberies.