Caught: the Average Joe bank robber’s last heist in Somerville
By Andrea Gregory

  Local media may have dubbed him the ‚ÄúAverage Joe‚Äù bank robber, but it was the know-how and quick thinking of local authorities that lead to his arrest.
  On Wednesday, Nov. 30, police arrested Somerville Joseph Hart on Concord Street in Charlestown. Hart is believed to be the average Joe bank robber. He allegedly robbed a dozen banks in a three month time span. The last bank he hit was East Cambridge Savings Bank at the corner of Highland Avenue and Cedar Street.

   Local authorities form several towns and cities had teamed up with the FBI to chase down the average-looking bank robber.
   Lt. Paul Upton, of the Somerville police, said it was just a coincidence that the suspect‚Äôs real name turned out to be Joe.
   Hart was described as a tall, thin, mid 20s and clean shaven ‚Äì a description that could match many people. There was very little that would indication that Hart should have been seen as a suspicious character. His bank robbing took place in the afternoon. He never wore a mask or did anything to draw attention to himself.
  According to Upton, he was a note-passer.
  But as inconspicuous as the suspect may have been, Somerville police knew who they were looking for shortly after he hit the local bank.
  ‚ÄúThe bank did have analog video surveillance which produced black/white still photos of the suspect at the teller window.  There was a separate camera which captures a profile view of the suspect as he enters the bank from the Highland (Avenue) entrance,‚Äù wrote Detective Richard C. Lavey in his report following the Nov. 28 robbery. ‚ÄúIt is clear to me, after reviewing the bank video surveillance that the suspect in this case is the same suspect in other bank robberies in the recent past. This appears to be the same bank-robbery suspect in the jurisdictions of Littleton, Medford, Winchester, Woburn, Belmont and Arlington to name a few.‚Äù
   Hart’s girlfriend, Jennifer Sheehan, 20, was also arrested and believed to be his bank robbing accomplice.
   Upton said Somerville had not filed charges in connection with the robbery because they were expecting the Federal Government to. Somerville still has the option to file charges, but stiffer consequences are usually attached to federal crimes, said Upton.