Gloucester man held on $100G bail, suspected of bank, store robberies

SALEM – A Gloucester felon suspected of robbing hundreds of dollars from an Eastern Bank and then burglarizing a convenience store remains held at the Middleton Jail on $100,000 cash bail.In Salem Superior Court Thursday, William McGrail, 44, of 80 Eastern Ave., Gloucester, pleaded innocent at his arraignment to charges of stealing from a depository, larceny over $250 and breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony before Judge Timothy Q. Feeley.The judge continued the same bail, $50,000 cash on each of the two cases, at the joint recommendation of the prosecutor and defense. Feeley agreed to leave the door open for a bail review hearing at another court date.It was around 8:40 a.m. on Dec. 15 when a robber described as wearing a leather jacket and plain hooded sweatshirt walked into the Eastern Bank branch, located at 195 Market St., Lynn, and passed a threatening note to the female teller demanding cash.The teller turned over $850 and the thief fled from the bank and managed to avoid being captured despite an immediate search of the area by police.But surveillance photos were able to capture a clear image of the would-be robber during the holdup.McGrail was later identified through the bank surveillance camera, according to police reports.Five days later, McGrail allegedly burglarized a local convenience store on Eastern Avenue in Gloucester.Police arrested McGrail a few days later following an investigation.Assistant District Attorney James P. Gubitose, who is prosecuting both cases, also indicted McGrail as a habitual offender, which allows prosecutors to seek a more severe punishment if convicted on the other charges.McGrail has prior armed robbery convictions out of Suffolk County in 2005, 1999 and 1992, according to records.He also has a probation violation for not reporting on an assault case out of Suffolk County. A hearing has been scheduled for a surrender concerning the issue on May 2.