A New Bedford couple was arrested today just after 3:30 PM while attempting to commit an armed robbery at the R & B Liquor Store located at 189 Belleville Avenue. Patrick SILVA (40) and his girlfriend Danielle CAMBRA (21) both of 21 Jean Street in New Bedford were charged with: (1) Attempted Armed Robbery; (2) Attempts to Commit a Crime (Armed Robbery); and, (3) Using a Vehicle in the Commission of a Felony.

New Bedford Police Major Crimes Detective Greg Sirois and Massachusetts State Trooper David Reis of the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS) were on the lookout for a vehicle that was used in a botched armed robbery just 45 minutes earlier at Joe’s Gas Station located at 445 Belleville Avenue.

The vehicle was described as a faded black sedan. An anonymous call then reported seeing a suspicious vehicle in the area of the botched robbery and provided a license plate number. When that license plate was checked, it was learned to belong on a faded black Mitsubishi Galant that had been used by Joseph “Jo-Jo” Smith (54) also of 21 Jean Street in New Bedford who is currently wanted for the armed robbery of the First Citizen’s Federal Credit Union located on Cove Road in New Bedford.

Trooper Reis and Detective Sirois found that car backed into a driveway at the R & B Liquor Store and by the time they were getting out of their car, Patrick SILVA was putting on a red stocking hat that he had made into a mask by cutting out holes for the eyes and mouth. Trooper Reis and Detective Sirois immediately grabbed SILVA, pat frisked him and recovered a large, serrated kitchen knife.

SILVA was taken into custody without incident as was the alleged get-a-way driver who was behind the wheel, SILVA’s girlfriend Danielle CAMBRA. A check of the vehicle’s trunk revealed what is believed to be the red sweatshirt SILVA was wearing during the botched robbery and a large hunting knife. It was then learned that the former owner of the vehicle, wanted bank robber Joseph “Jo-Jo” Smith had since given the vehicle to his brother who is a roommate of Patrick SILVA and Danielle CAMBRA.

Joseph “Jo-Jo” Smith is still at large and considered armed and dangerous.

Both Patrick SILVA and Danielle CAMBRA were later transported to the Ash Street Jail where they were held on $5,000.00 cash bail. They are scheduled for arraignment tomorrow morning in New Bedford 3rd District Court. (Photographs of Patrick SILVA, Joseph “Jo-Jo” Smith, Danielle CAMBRA, the mask and the knife are attached to this release)

New Bedford Police Department

Lieutenant Jeffrey P. Silva
Public Information Officer

871 Rockdale Avenue
New Bedford, MA 02740

Office: 508.979.1688
Email: jpsilva@newbedford-ma.gov

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