Saugus bank robber booked

SAUGUS – An alert Daily Item reader helped capture an alleged bank robber Wednesday when the reader recognized the suspect in a bank surveillance photo that was printed in the newspaper, Saugus police said.Frank Miller, 22, of 33 Holly Ave., Lynn, was arrested in connection with Tuesday’s robbery of Eastern Bank on Route 1 near the Fellsway. He was charged with unarmed robbery and larceny over $250 and ordered held on $50,000 cash bail by Lynn District Court Judge Ellen Flatley.Police say someone left an anonymous tip after seeing the suspect’s picture in the paper.”It helped us out quite a bit,” Police Lt. Mike Annese said.Within a couple of hours after receiving the tip, police located Miller inside Applebee’s restaurant on Route 1, where he was placed under arrest on outstanding warrants.Six banks north of Boston were robbed on Tuesday. Miller wasn’t charged with any of the other robberies, but police say they’re examining that possibility.Investigators executed a search warrant at room 50 of the Town Line Motel, where Miller was believed to have slept on Tuesday night. There police found thousands of dollars in cash stored in different parts of the room and identical clothing – including a gray Red Sox hooded sweatshirt that the suspect was wearing in the surveillance video, according to police.One of the bills investigators found was identified as “bait money,” a bill with a serial number that the bank pre-recorded, police said.After the robbery, Miller allegedly hopped into a red car where a female began driving him down Route 1 southbound. Police later interviewed the woman who said she had no idea Miller had just robbed the bank. She was not charged.Miller allegedly purchased for his girlfriend, who is not the same woman who drove the car, a $1,250 diamond ring from Kay Jewelers at the Square One Mall about three hours after he committed the robbery, investigators said.Police questioned the girlfriend and she denied having knowledge about the heist.According to Lynn District Court records, Miller was charged in August with attempting to rob Dairy Twirl on Broadway in Lynn. He allegedly tampered with a closed cash register while two employees had their backs turned. Police later discovered a threatening note tucked in his shirtsleeve after he was arrested.Police said that while he was sitting in a police cruiser with his hands cuffed behind his back, he managed to wiggle his hands in front of him. Then, he began swallowing prescription pills that were illegally in his possession, police said.One year ago, Miller was charged with forgery after he allegedly stole his brother’s $1,290 disability check.