As police in Salem, Plaistow and Haverhill, Mass., searched for the suspected perpetrator of bank robberies in their towns, their suspect was allegedly busy stealing sweatshirts and baseball hats from the Bob’s store in Salem.

Authorities were closing in on John Wilder, 23, originally from Fremont, when he was arrested at the store on Wednesday, Feb. 27, for theft. Also arrested was a pregnant female companion, Stephanie Varney, 26, and a 15- year-old believed to be related to Varney.

Another woman with the crew, possibly Varney’s mother, according to Salem Police Deputy Chief William Ganley, was not arrested or charged with anything because she did not have any stolen items in her possession. Among the items found on the three suspects were hats, shirts, a purse and boots.

Plaistow police issued a warrant for Wilder after he became the main suspect in the robbery and then attempted a second robbery of a Sovereign Bank in that town. On Tuesday, Feb. 12, Wilder entered the Plaistow bank and allegedly threatened a teller into handing over $1,000.

According to witness reports, Wilder allegedly returned to the same bank on Tuesday, Feb. 26, and tried to rob it again. A bank teller refused him this time, and Wilder took off with empty pockets. In between the two incidents, bank tellers told police that Wilder was a customer at the bank.

Wilder reportedly confessed to the Jan. 29 robbery of the River Bank on Main St. in Salem, plus several other robberies in the southern portion of the state, including the two Plaistow incidents, and another bank robbery in Haverhill, Mass. Authorities suspect he has been involved in more.

Police believe Wilder has been hiding out at a hotel on West Lowell Avenue in Haverhill for the past several months, Ganley said.

Wilder was arraigned in Plaistow District Court on Friday, Feb. 28, for the charges there. The Salem Police Department issued a summons for Wilder before handing him over to Plaistow, Ganley said. He is scheduled to appear in Salem District Court on Monday, March 31.