Suspects, one of whom scuffled with a security guard, robbed two retailers in the Westfarms area Tuesday. [Updated, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022]
By Ronni Newton
West Hartford Police are searching for suspects who robbed two retailers in the Westfarms area Tuesday afternoon, with one of the incidents involving a suspect scuffling with a security guard.
Capt. Eric Rocheleau said Macy’s Loss Prevention employees reported that four suspects carrying large black garbage bags entered the Westfarms store at 3:50 p.m. Tuesday and began filling them with merchandise.
When a Loss Prevention officer attempted to stop the robbery, one of the suspects resisted and struggled with the officer, police said. One of the suspects also reached for his waistband, which officers indicated implied that he was armed.
At that point, police said, the Loss Prevention officer pulled back and the suspects fled. The officer was not injured, police said.
Police said that minutes later they received a report that the Ulta Beauty store, located just down the road from Westfarms at 1555 New Britain Ave., had been robbed in a similar manner.
Employees told police that three suspects entered the store carrying garbage bags, which they filled with a large quantity of fragrances.
The suspects fled in a dark gray Toyota Highlander, police said. Images of the vehicle were released on Wednesday, along with video of the suspects entering and while they were inside Macy’s.
Suspects in a robbery at Ulta flee in a gray Toyota Highlander. Photo courtesy of West Hartford Police
Police believe that the same suspects were involved in both incidents, Rocheleau said Wednesday. During the Ulta robbery, one of the suspects remained in the getaway vehicle, while the other three entered the store, he said.
Neither the vehicle, nor any of the suspects, have been located, and police said the incidents remain under investigation.
An Ulta store in Waterbury had a similar theft take place Tuesday as well. That incident happened around 3:30 p.m., police said. Based on the descriptions, police believe it was the same suspects, using the same vehicle, who robbed that store.
Anyone with information is asked to call the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203
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What is the description of the suspects?
That would be helpful. You would think the author would provide basic info.
In response to your comment, and the comment by LMM22, that information has not been provided by the police, or it would have been included in the story. Why would you assume that I would just decide to leave it out or forget to include it?
In response to your comment, and the comment by Jesse, that information has not been provided by the police. If it is provided, it will always be included in an article. If police do not provide the description, it is generally because they don’t have a good description, or because it would compromise the investigation.