Saugus Police arrest pair in local bank robberies

SAUGUS – Saugus Police arrested two men Thursday in connection with a string of area bank robberies, according to Assistant Police Chief Ronald Giorgetti.Joseph Barberi, 34, of 78 Mills St., Malden, was arrested and charged with unarmed robbery and intimidate to steal from depository, according to Giorgetti. Barberi is also responsible for robberies of the Bank of America in Saugus on Jan. 8, a TD Bank in Revere on Dec. 28 and a Citizens Bank in Malden on Dec. 21, said Giorgetti.Robert Matthis, 31, of 418 Revere Beach Parkway, Revere, was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact (bank robbery), according to Giorgetti.Saugus Police responded to a report of an unarmed robbery of the East Boston Savings Bank at 317 Main St. Thursday at around 2:30 p.m.Giorgetti said the suspect fled on foot with an unspecified amount of money after passing a note demanding money. No injuries to employees or customers were reported, he said. A man robbed the Bank of America on Route 1 South in Saugus on Jan. 8 by passing a note as well.Giorgetti said the Saugus Police Department had assistance from the general public along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robbery Task Force and the Revere and Malden police departments.?It was just good investigative police work,” he said. “Police were able to follow a lead to a motor vehicle and we were able to identify the individuals.”Giorgetti said Matthis was arrested while operating a vehicle believed to be used in Thursday?s robbery while Barberi was arrested at his Malden address.?Both were taken into custody without incident,” he said.Matthis and Barberi will be arraigned today in Lynn District Court.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].