FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — A 45-year-old Fall River man was arrested after police say he tried to rob three stores in the city within a half hour.

William Bruce has been charged with armed robbery and two counts of unarmed robbery.

Police say the first robbery was reported around 10 a.m. Thursday at the Maplewood Mini Mart on Stafford Road.

Bruce allegedly demanded money from the register before leaving with an undetermined amount, police said.

About 10 minutes later, police were alerted to another robbery at County Convenience on County Street. According to the clerk, Bruce said he was robbing the store and instructed him to open the cash register.

“Shortly after this, the clerk alerted a third party that his store was being robbed and asked them to contact the police. This spooked the individual and caused him to flee the store,” police said.

While at the scene of the second robbery, officers were able to identify the vehicle Bruce was using.

Just before 10:30 a.m., a third call came in reporting that a man had walked into the Family Dollar on Stafford Road and asked for all the money in the cashier’s drawer.

When the clerk asked him to clarify, Bruce said he just wanted to see her reaction and then left, according to police.

Police eventually found Bruce driving in the area of Huard and Albert streets and took him into custody without incident.

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