Alleged Serial Robber Who Poses As HVAC Repair Man Pleads Not Guilty
BROOKLINE (CBS) -- Anthony Binsfield appeared before a judge on Thursday facing five larceny charges after he allegedly posed as a heating and air conditioning repair man and stole from numerous Brookline businesses.
Binsfield, 32, is accused of robbing multiple businesses after posing as an HVAC repair man. A Brookline District Court judge ordered Binsfield held on cash bail at a Thursday arraignment.
Police say Binsfield gained access to businesses' back rooms by posing as a repair man and took money, gift cards and credit cards from both the businesses and employees' purses.
In court, prosecutors said Binsfield took cash and credit cards from employees of the Miniluxe nail salon in Brookline on Dec. 20, making fraudulent charges on two different cards. He is accused of doing the same at multiple other locations.
Police arrested Binsfield in Coolidge Corner on Wednesday night after an employee of one of the affected businesses tipped them off. Officers arrested him as he was leaving the Paris Creperie. He had apparently stolen from two businesses earlier in the day and four businesses in one week.
"He's victimized an awful lot of people, especially during the holiday season for them to have their personal identity stolen, money, things like that," Brookline Police Deputy Superintendent Michael Gropman said.
When he was arrested, Binsfield had 11 outstanding warrants against him. According to Binsfield's defense attorney, Binsfield had admitted to using heroin recently.
In 2015, Binsfield was accused of trespassing in a Cohasset Elementary School, also after posing as an HVAC repair man.
The state asked the judge to hold Binsfield on $25,000 bail, but the judge settled it around $15,000. He is also ordered to stay away from Supercuts, Paris Creperie, Bruegger's Bagels, Miniluxe ans Panera Bread, and remain drug and alcohol free.
