Methuen Police Arrest Man They Say Robbed Local Bank

Bank surveillance video captured this man, police have since identified as Thomas Bowler. (Courtesy photograph.)

Methuen Police said they have arrested an armed gunman who robbed a Burnham Road bank Saturday morning.

Thomas Bowler, 48, was arrested late Saturday night, and charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm while committing a felony and stealing by confining or putting in fear.

Police had been on the lookout for the man, who displayed a handgun with a wood grip and black slide, described as “possible semi-automatic,” since just before 11:30 a.m., Saturday, when the man allegedly held up The Savings Bank and fled with an undetermined amount of cash. He had been last seen in the parking lot of a nearby Market Basket grocery store.

He was initially described as a white male, with a possible fake mustache; standing approximately five feet, five inches high; aged late 30s to mid-40s; and wearing jeans, black square rimmed glasses, black shoes, dark colored hooded sweatshirt and a tan baseball hat.