CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A man Kent County authorities say robbed the same gas station twice and posed as a panhandler to steal from a good Samaritan has been arrested nearly 150 miles away.
Christopher Lloyd Boulle, 57, remained in the Kent County jail Monday on $500,000 bond. He’s charged with two counts of armed robbery, one count of unarmed robbery and being a habitual offender.
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office believes Boulle twice robbed the Citgo gas station at 250 76th Street SW in Byron Township.
The first crime happened around 1:40 a.m. on April 9, when the suspect approached the counter with an item to buy. As soon as the cash register opened, the thief pushed the gas station clerk out of the way and took the till money.
Investigators identified the robber as Boulle shortly thereafter, based on surveillance video.
Fifteen days later, on April 24, the same Citgo was robbed in the early morning hours by a man who threatened the store employee with a blade.
About 6.5 hours after the second robbery, a driver reported being robbed by a panhandler near 28th Street and Hotel Avenue SE in Cascade Township. The driver told detectives he stopped to give the man money – that’s when the suspect swiped his wallet off the passenger seat.
When the driver followed the thief, the suspect told him he had a knife and threatened to stab him, deputies say.
Investigators matched the panhandling thief’s description to Boulle.
A tip the next morning led authorities to Dundee, where police took Boulle into custody without incident. Investigators say at the time of Boulle’s arrest they discovered evidence linking him to all three crimes.
Anyone with additional information about the crimes or more possible victims is encouraged to call the Kent County Sheriff's Office at 616.632.6100 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.