Crime Spree Hits Hamden Parking Lots: Police

HAMDEN, CT — Police are investigating a crime spree that involved five purse-snatching incidents that occurred within about 30 minutes of each other Thursday. The incidents occurred between 4:45 p.m. and 5:18 p.m. on Jan. 16 in the area of the Hamden Plaza and Hamden Mart, according to Capt. Ronald Smith.

In the first incident, police responded to the Hamden Mart parking lot, 2300 Dixwell Ave., at 4:44 p.m. on the report of an attempted “purse snatching.” A woman was pushing her shopping carriage to her vehicle when she was approached from behind by suspect, described as a black man, who grabbed her purse, according to Smith. The victim “fought for her purse” and gained control of her property, Smith said.

At 4:49 p.m. police responded to the Hamden Plaza, 2100 Dixwell Ave., on an attempted “purse snatching.” A 70-year-old woman was pushing her shopping cart in the parking lot and was approached from behind by a black man, who grabbed her purse, according to Smith. The man shoved her but she “fought for her purse” and was successful at retaining it, Smith said.

A minute later, at 4:50 p.m., the man approached a woman and was successful at stealing her purse, according to Smith.

At 4:58 p.m. a woman was putting groceries into her vehicle in the parking lot of 2335 Dixwell Ave. A “young black male” grabbed her handbag from her shopping cart, according to Smith. He was seen entering a white sedan.

At 5:18 p.m. a woman had her purse stolen from her shopping cart in the parking lot of the Hamden Plaza. The man that had stolen her purse was last seen entering a white Toyota Corolla, which was occupied by several young male juveniles, Smith said.

Shortly thereafter, Officer Kyle Sampognaro located the white Toyota Corolla, which had been reported stolen, in the area of Dixwell Avenue and Skiff Street. Police 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,” Smith said. The stolen vehicle was last seen traveling southbound on Route 15.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hamden Police Department at 203-230-4030.