‘BOLO’ app helps Norwood Police nab alleged bank robber

NORWOOD — Norwood Police say an app helped them catch an alleged bank robber in a matter of minutes.

Police Chief William Brooks said officers now use a mobile app called ‘BOLO Local’ --- BOLO is a police acronym for “Be on the lookout" --- and that app helped them nab suspect Matthew Bretti quickly.

Bretti, 35, of Norwood, is accused of robbing the Norwood Bank on Central Avenue on Friday afternoon, and taking off with $3,000 in cash. He is charged with armed robbery, and was also arrested on an outstanding warrant.

A police officer snapped a photo of surveillance video of the suspect on his cell phone, and then uploaded it to the mobile app.

Within seconds, that picture went out to the entire department.

“You get a banner that says BOLO mobile. All you have to do is swipe and (it) brings you to the photograph,” Brooks said. “Literally every officer looks at his phone, and a couple recognized the photograph, and it happened right away.”

Bretti was arraigned from his Norwood Hospital bed on Monday. Prosecutors allege that he told the bank clerk that he had a knife, and threatened violence, and commanded her to give him cash.

The police chief credits the app with helping police catch Bretti.

“It’s the rapid deployment of photographs of people that we are looking for and it’s kind of Policing 101. That’s what you want,” he said.

Police had Bretti “in custody in 22 minutes so that’s pretty good,” Brooks said.

An officer who was checking the area spotted Bretti in the emergency room at Norwood Hospital, where he was immediately arrested.

Bretti was held without bail for up to 90 days on another case. His next court date is Jan. 14.

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