NEWS RELEASE
Date: January 17, 2020
Contact: Captain Ronald Smith
Phone: (203) 230-4029
PIO#: 20-07
On January 16, 2020 Hamden Police responded to a crime spree that occurred in the area of the Hamden Plaza and Hamden Mart. The 5 incidents occurred between 4:45 p.m. and 5:18p.m.
The following is a brief synopsis of the incidents:
At 4:44p.m. officers responded to the Hamden Mart parking lot, 2300 Dixwell Avenue on the report of an attempted “purse snatching.” The female victim was pushing her shopping carriage to her vehicle. She was approached from behind by a black male, who grabbed her purse. The female victim “fought for her purse” and gained control of her property.
At 4:49p.m. officers responded to the Hamden Plaza, 2100 Dixwell Avenue on an attempted “purse snatching.” The 70-year-old female victim was pushing her shopping cart in the parking lot. She was approached from behind by a black male, who grabbed her purse. The male shoved her. The victim “fought for her purse” and was successful at retaining it.
A minute later, at 4:50p.m. the male subject approached a female victim and was successful at stealing her purse.
At 4:58p.m. a female victim was placing groceries into her vehicle in the parking lot of 2335 Dixwell Avenue. A “young black male” grabbed her handbag from her shopping cart. He was observed entering a white sedan.
At 5:18p.m. a female victim had her purse stolen from her shopping cart in the parking lot of the Hamden Plaza. The male that had stolen her purse was last observed entering a white Toyota Corolla, which was occupied by several young male juveniles.
Shortly thereafter, Officer Kyle Sampognaro located the white Toyota Corolla, which had been reported stolen. He located the occupied stolen vehicle, in the area of Dixwell Avenue and Skiff Street. Officers attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop, which was immediately terminated, when the stolen vehicle fled at a high rate of speed in a heavily populated area. The stolen vehicle was last observed traveling southbound on Route 15.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hamden Police Department at (203) 230-4030.