Police Probe Armed Robberies At Businesses In Eastern CT

Businesses in Norwich and Montville were held-up by an armed robber Wednesday night, according to police.

While the suspect in both robberies appears to be wearing the same clothing, police as of Thursday evening did not comment on whether it is the same individual.

In Norwich, Sgt. Ken Wright said there was an armed robbery around 9 p.m. at the Shell gas station at 564 West Main St.

Police said a man, described as white or Hispanic, entered the business with a firearm and demanded money from the store clerk.

The robber fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said. No one was injured, according to a police announcement.

An investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Norwich Det. Mario Castro at 860-886-5561, ext. 3156.

In Montville, police said there was an armed robbery at the Labella Wine & Spirit store at 138 Route 32 in Uncasville.

This robbery happened around 9:30 p.m., when a white male wearing a ski mask and a black hoodie displayed a black handgun and demanded cash from the cashier, police said, in a news release.

The suspect fled on foot heading south on Route 32 towards Quaker Hill. No one was injured in this robbery either.

On Thursday evening, Montville police announced they had charged Frank Straub, 41, with first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, illegal use of a facsimile firearm, and criminal possession of a firearm, in connection with the liquor store robbery.

Straub is scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court in Norwich on Friday.

Anyone with information, or video footage from nearby businesses, is asked to contact Montville Det. Saffioti at 860-892-6130 or asaffioti@montvillepolice.org.

Montville police said their investigation was done in conjunction with the Waterford and Norwich Police Departments.

As of Thursday evening, Norwich police had not indicated if they had made an arrest in the gas station robbery.