Arlington police are searching for a knife-wielding would-be robber who ran off without the money he demanded after a Capitol Theater employee resisted demands and yelled at him.

Five officers were called to the Cambridge Savings Bank at 188 Mass. Ave., East Arlington, early Sunday, Jan. 29, to search for a suspect in an attempted armed robbery.

The suspect was described as a male, 25, carrying a knife. He was between 6 feet to 6-feet-2, wearing a dark midlength coat, dark pants, and black ski mask.

A witness reported at 12:48 a.m. that while making a deposit at the bank for the Capitol Theater, the suspect approached, from the east, pulled a large kitchen-style knife and demanded the money.

Police were told the suspect repeatedly kept saying, "Give me the money." The witness said he told the suspect "no" and "Back off."

The suspect kept trying to grab the money until the witness screamed several times, and the suspect fled on foot down Chandler Street, without the money.
A general broadcast was sent on Central District, and a teletype was sent for similar incidents.

A search of the area proved negative results, police said, though several people that matched the description were stopped and questioned.

Later that morning, at 10:29, police spoke with the victim, who had been working a late Saturday/early Sunday shift the Capitol Theater. The projectionist closed the theater and waited for the projectors cooled off to leave for the night. The night drop-off money was collected, and the victim walked on Mass. Ave. eastbound toward Cambridge Savings, in the next block.

About 12:45 a.m., as the victim approached the night drop-off outside of the building, police were told that a man wearing all black approached with a knife. He was wearing a black T-shirt under a black zip-down jacket. The witness saw no brand marking on the clothing.

The suspect wore ski a mask, and white skin was visible around the eyes, which were green or brown. The man kept the large knife by his side at stomach level and continually said, "Give me the money."

The male’s voice sounded to the victim like a Boston accent. To yells and resistance, the suspect ran off.