Weymouth police arrest Walmart robbery suspect 46 minutes after incident

Weymouth MA– police arrest Walmart robbery suspect 46 minutes after incident

Weymouth police arrested a man accused of robbing a Walmart customer service desk less than an hour after the reported crime, according to the department.

At about 11:40 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to the Walmart at 740 Middle Street after a man demanded money from an employee and made threats when the employee sought help. The employee gave him money before he fled the store in a black sedan, police said.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and used Flock automated license plate reader technology to identify a black Nissan Altima with Massachusetts registration 5PWC63. The vehicle was registered to Raphael Almeida Caldeira, 35. Police said a recent booking photo showed Caldeira wearing a bright yellow hooded sweatshirt resembling the one seen in the store video.

Information about the vehicle was shared with nearby police departments. At about 12:26 p.m., Weymouth officers, assisted by an Abington police detective, found the Nissan Altima in the parking lot of Terra Nossa Market at 1501 Bedford Street in Abington. Officers took Caldeira into custody as he approached the vehicle, police said.

During booking at Weymouth police headquarters, officers seized cash found in Caldeira’s pockets, along with a yellow hooded sweatshirt and a dark vest believed to be connected to the robbery. The vehicle was towed to headquarters pending a search warrant.

Caldeira was charged with unarmed robbery. He told police he was homeless and is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The investigation remains ongoing.