Lynn man arrested for credit union robberies

LYNN – A Lynn man was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail Monday at his arraignment for allegedly robbing two Western Avenue credit unions over the weekend.Philip Bassi, 33, of 99 Laighton St., was arrested after police interviewed him at his home Saturday afternoon.Detective Tim Ferrari spotted Bassi walking down Washington Street and recognized him as the suspect in the robberies, which were caught on video tape, according to police.While questioning Bassi inside his one-room apartment that he shared with his girlfriend, police said the suspect gave them consent to search the premises. Investigators said several pieces of clothing were found that matched what the suspect was wearing.A black bomber style jacket seen in the video was found stuffed into a black garbage bag that was discovered on the side of Bassi’s house, police said.After he was placed under arrest, Bassi allegedly admitted to robbing the St. Jean’s Credit Union at 527 Western Ave. about 12:30 p.m. Friday and Metro Credit Union at 475 Western Ave. at about 11 a.m. Saturday.Bassi said he robbed the banks because he’s addicted to heroin and needed money to buy his daughter a Christmas present, police said.In both robberies, Bassi allegedly used a note that simply said, “$200. Nothing stupid.”According to a police report, Bassi said he only asked for $200 because he knows that stealing over $250 results in a felony charge.In the Saturday robbery at Metro Credit, police said Bassi approached a teller and repeatedly read the note out loud: “$200. Nothing stupid.”He stood outside at the ATM area, appearing as if to be writing a deposit slip, for about five minutes before he approached the female teller, police said.The woman, however, did not have any money in the drawer and opened the empty drawer to show Bassi. He then moved onto the next teller who gave him an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.Lynn District Court Judge Dunbar Livingston ordered the high bail Monday. Bassi must return to court Thursday for a hearing.