Alleged suspect in 4 Burlington-area bank robberies has been arrested, according to the police chief

Burlington police arrested a man Friday who they say robbed three banks in Burlington and one in Winooski in the past week, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad.

James Plunkett, 39, of Burlington, was arrested Friday on Riverside Avenue, Murad said. He was the prime suspect in a string of bank robberies in Burlington and Winooski.

According to Burlington police, Plunkett walked into three Burlington banks — Opportunities Credit Union, KeyBank and M&T Bank — and told employees he had a bomb before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

He was also quoted in previous news as the prime suspect in the TD Bank robbery on East Allen Street in Winooski.

In each of the incidents, Plunkett could be seen on security footage and in one video he was seen fleeing the bank on his bicycle. Police said he robbed the Opportunities Credit Union on North Avenue on Oct. 31, the KeyBank on Bank Street on Oct. 28 and the M&T Bank on Pine Street on Oct. 26. At M&T and Opportunities Credit Union, he told employees he had a bomb before. overdraft by an undisclosed amount of cash.

Plunkett has a lengthy criminal history with three assault charges, seven felony charges, 20 misdemeanor charges and 76 incidents dating back to 2011, according to a news release from Burlington police. He was seen separately on video trying to break into a home in Burlington’s New North End this month, police said.

“I am, once again, deeply appreciative and impressed by the caliber of our city’s investigative team,” Murad said in a news release. “I also offer sincere thanks to the South Burlington Police Department, the Winooski Police Department, and the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, personnel from each of whom assisted in this investigation and apprehension.”

South Burlington has also been hit by two bank robberies in recent weeks. On Oct. 29, a man entered the EastRise Credit Union on Shelburne Road in South Burlington demanding money, according to a police news release. The man told the bank teller he was armed “with an incendiary device,” police said.

South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke said his department is working closely with the Burlington department, but said he does not believe Plunkett is a suspect in the Oct. 29 robbery.

“We believe our robbery was carried out by another person and we are trying to discern whether or not Plunkett is working in concert with others or if ours is simply autonomous,” he said.

The robbery happened a little more than a month after a KeyBank robbery on Shelburne Road in South Burlington on Sept. 25, Burke said. Police are investigating whether that case is related to the incident at EastRise Credit Union.

Burke said robberies in the area are unusual, but also noted that it’s common to see a repeat occurrence from single individuals.

“It’s a trend we haven’t seen in a few years, that’s for sure,” Burke said. “Generally, once you have one, it’s pretty predictable, you’ll have two or three before you catch up with that person.”

Sarah Ruane, spokeswoman for the FBI’s Albany division, said the federal agency is aware of the incidents in both cities and is “assisting our law enforcement partners as needed.”