West Hartford Police are looking for a robbery suspect and the driver of his getaway vehicle.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police are searching for a man who stole items from the Home Depot at 503 New Park Ave. Monday and punched a loss control employee, causing minor injury, before fleeing the store.

Police are also searching for the driver of the getaway vehicle.

Police said they were called to the scene of a robbery at Home Depot at 9:10 a.m. Monday.

The suspect hopped into the passenger seat of a red Ford Explorer and fled,  dropping the stolen merchandise – a “Rigid” toolkit valued at $399 – in the parking lot where it was recovered by Home Depot.

The vehicle was quickly located by police as it was leaving the area.

According to police, the driver initially responded to a request to stop, but then sped off.

The “suspect(s) attempted to engage officers in pursuit,” West Hartford Police said in a news release, and although officers did not chase the vehicle, tire deflation equipment was deployed.

After saturating the area, officers found the abandoned Explorer on Regent Street in Hartford.

A State Police K-9 crew and Hartford Police assisted in the search for the driver and robbery suspect, but they were not successful.

Police are searching for the robbery suspect, described as a Hispanic man, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and 175 pounds. He has dark curly hair and was last seen wearing a black shirt, a blue sweatshirt or sweater, and jeans.

Police are also looking for the driver of the Explorer, a black male, approximately 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds. He has short, dark hair, police said, and was last seen wearing a gray top and jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact West Hartford Police at 860-523-5203.

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