A screenshot of James Plunkett from Oct. 26 inside of M&T Bank in Burlington. Photo courtesy of the Burlington Police DepartmentBurlington police on Friday arrested a man they say robbed three banks in Burlington and one in Winooski over the past week, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad.James Plunkett, 39, of Burlington, was arrested Friday on Riverside Avenue, Murad said. He was the primary suspect in a string of bank robberies in Burlington and Winooski. According to Burlington police, Plunkett walked into three Burlington banks — Opportunities Credit Union, KeyBank and M&T Bank — and told employees he had a bomb before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.He was also cited in previous news reports as the main suspect in the robbery of TD Bank on East Allen Street in Winooski.In each of the incidents, Plunkett could be seen in security footage and, in one video, was seen fleeing the bank on his bike. Police said he robbed Opportunities Credit Union on North Avenue on Oct. 31, KeyBank on Bank Street on Oct. 28, and M&T Bank on Pine Street on Oct. 26.  At M&T and Opportunities Credit Union, he told employees he had a bomb before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.Plunkett has a lengthy criminal history, with three assault charges, seven felony charges, 20 misdemeanor charges and 76 incidents going back to 2011, according to a Burlington police press release. He was separately spotted on video attempting to break into a home in Burlington’s New North End this month, police said.“I am, once again, deeply appreciative of and impressed by the caliber of our city’s investigatory team,”  Murad said in a press release. “I also offer sincere thanks to the South Burlington Police Department, the Winooski Police Department, and the Vermont State Police Northern Drug Task Force, personnel from each of which have contributed to this investigation and apprehension.”South Burlington has also been hit with two bank robberies in recent weeks. On Oct. 29, a man entered the EastRise Credit Union on Shelburne Road in South Burlington demanding money, according to a police press release. The man told the bank teller he was armed “with an incendiary device,” police said.South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke said his department is working closely with Burlington’s department, but said they don’t believe Plunkett to be a suspect in the Oct. 29 robbery.“We believe that our robbery was perpetrated by another person and we are trying to discern whether or not Plunkett is working in concert with others or if ours is simply a standalone,” he said.The robbery came a little more than a month after a robbery of KeyBank on Shelburne Road in South Burlington on Sept. 25, Burke said. Police are investigating whether there is a connection between that case and the incident at EastRise Credit Union.Burke said the robberies in the area are unusual, but also noted that it is common to see a repeat occurrence from lone individuals.“It’s a trend we haven’t seen for a number of years, that’s for sure,” Burke said. “Generally, once you have one it’s pretty predictable you’ll have two or three before you actually catch up with the person.”Sarah Ruane, a spokesperson with the FBI’s Albany division, said the federal agency is aware of the incidents in both cities and is “assisting our law enforcement partners as needed.” Read the story on VTDigger here: Alleged suspect in 4 Burlington-area bank robberies arrested, according to police chief.