Average Joe is Actually Named Joe

This morning the Boston Globe ran a story about the average looking serial bank robber who has successfully taken 12 banks for “undisclosed sums” over the last two months. Hitting banks in the greater Boston metro the non-descript burglar walked into the banks, passed a note to the tellers demanding money and telling them he was armed, and walked out with anywhere from $700 to $2400. Bostonist always thought there was more money in bank robbery - perhaps it’s time to change our career aspirations and look for something better than bank heists.

Following this morning’s story, which included a fairly clear surveillance photo, the Boston Police Department has made an arrest. Well two. The regular-looking fellow arrested was identified as Joseph Hart. His girlfriend was taken in as well. Bostonist can’t control a little chuckle at the irony that the ‘Average Joe’ burglar was in fact Joe (not as good as the Raper the rapist, but still). No clear connection yet between the Boston Globe article and the identification of Joe, but it seems suspiciously coincidental to us. After two months of the same modus operandi, surveillance footage, and the FBI helping local authorities, a third police pow-wow in Winchester failed to result in any new leads. They asked the public for help and apparently it worked. Well, innocent until proven guilty. As a twenty-something white guy, often sporting a baseball cap, short brown hair, and glasses, Bostonist is still a bit nervous we’re under suspicion and could be the victim of a wrongful arrest. But we’re not tall enough to fit the bill. Whew.