Suspects In Ralph Lauren Store Thefts Smash Car Into NCPD Cruiser

NEW CANAAN, CT — Suspects in several recent grab-and-run thefts from the Ralph Lauren store in New Canaan returned to the store Sunday but were thwarted in their attempted theft by an off-duty New Canaan police officer, according to authorities.

During their escape from police, the suspects rammed their vehicle into a police cruiser and disappeared on foot. No injuries were reported, but the three suspects remain at-large.

The officer was working a security detail separate from the department as a result of the recent larcenies from earlier this month.

"The previous larcenies from the store [began] with the suspect vehicle parking in the no parking zone (driver remains in vehicle) in front of the store and the male and female exiting the car and walking into the store, taking multiple items and then quickly exiting and getting into the aforementioned suspect vehicle that parks in the no parking zone and quickly driving away," wrote Lt. Jason Ferraro in a statement.

On Sunday at about 3:20 p.m., the officer stationed at the store saw a vehicle similar to the one used in the other thefts - in this case a gray Acura sedan with a stolen Connecticut license plate AR-37641 - "park in front of the store in the no parking zone and a black male and female exit the vehicle with the third black male remaining in the driver’s seat of the vehicle."

The woman approached the front of the store, and after seeing the officer she immediately returned to the waiting vehicle.

When the man entered the store, the officer made contact with him, and the suspect immediately left the store and also got into the waiting vehicle. At that point, the vehicle sped off heading west on Elm Street towards Park Street, according to Ferraro.

"Responding officers at the request of the off duty officer who was working at Ralph Lauren approached the area of Cherry Street and Park Street in an attempt to make contact with the suspect vehicle," Ferraro wrote. "An officer was traveling westbound on Cherry Street approaching the intersection of Park Street when he observed the suspect vehicle turn onto Cherry Street from Park Street at a high rate of speed. As the suspect vehicle began traveling on Cherry Street it drove straight at the police vehicle at a high rate of speed, the officer attempted to turn away from the suspect vehicle but was not able to avoid being struck by the vehicle."

After slamming into the police car, the suspects "drove onto the sidewalk in front of St. Aloysius [Church] and struck a sign and drove onto the grass in front of the church and continued driving at a high rate of speed on Cherry Street."

A short while later a resident on nearby Hillside Avenue called police and reported "that the suspect vehicle was parked in their driveway with heavy damage and that it was still running."

The suspects had jumped out of the car and ran off towards Forest Street where they disappeared.

Police searched the area with the help of police dogs but did not find the suspects.

"The investigation into the incidents at Ralph Lauren is active and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Sgt. Romano of the [New Canaan Police] Investigative Section at 203-594-3523," said Ferraro.