String of needle robberies under investigation across North Shore

SAUGUS, Mass. -- A string of terrifying robberies involving a syringe has store clerks on alert but applauding a man who decided to fight back.

One of those stores was Amato’s Liquors in Saugus where the clerk fought back and helped police catch the suspect Saturday afternoon.

“I said, ‘don’t you see that sign? Remove hoodie so I can see your face,’” the clerk, who asked not to be named for his safety, said. “He just pulled out the needle, said HIV needle. He said, ‘I’m going to stab you, give me some money.’”

That clerk said the threat wasn’t something he was going to mess around with.

“He tried to become violent, so I had to protect myself. So, when I get the chance, I hit him hard,” he said.

He began beating the syringe suspect with a stick after handing him $100.

That clerk then chased the suspect down the street while on the phone with police.

When officers arrived the arrested the man, identified as 28-year-old Barre Hurley.

Just down the street, the manager at Lincoln Avenue Market wonders if this could be the guy who targeted his clerk with a needle just a few days earlier.

“Same verse. ‘I have HIV needle, give me $100,’” store manager Nimesh Patel said.

Also last week, the 7-Eleven in Lynn’s Austin Square, about half a mile from the Saugus businesses, was also robbed by someone with the same attitude.

“He said, ‘give me $100, give me $100,’” 7-eleven clerk Zahidul Islam said.

Earlier this month, a similar robbery at Cumberland Farms on Chestnut Street in Lynn alerted clerks to be aware of what’s going on in their stores.

Hurley is facing charges of armed robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon for the robbery at Amato's, he has not been linked to any of the other robberies by investigators. There were also three warrants for his arrest, including one for class B drug possession.

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