'Security Bill' Snags Southington Robbery Suspects

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A bill designed to catch robbers did just that in a Southington incident that ended in Middletown early Monday, police said.

At 2:58 Monday morning, Southington Police responded to the Food Bag at 960 Meriden Waterbury Road for an armed robbery, according to a report.

Police were told that that a white male wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and a "camouflage patterned mask" entered the store holding a knife and went behind the register, according to a report.

He had the clerk open the register and then grabbed cash, police said. One of the bills taken was kept in the register as a security measure with the serial number and a copy of the bill on file in the store, police said.

He also took Newport cigarettes before fleing the area on foot, according to a report.

Southington police sent out a bulletin on the robbery and, shortly after, a Middletown officer pullled over a car that had a knife and cash in plain view and among the bills was the "security bill" from the Southington robbery, police said. A camo mask was also located in the vehicle, according toa report.

The driver was identified as Franklin Brown, 60, of Middletown and the passenger as Shawn Mullaly 43 of Cromwell.

In all $114 in cash and two boxes of Newport cigarettes were taken in the robbery, a report indicates.

Mullaly was charged with second-degree robbery, sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny, second-degree breach of peace, and second-degree threatening. He was held overnight on a $50,000 bond and was to appear in court later Monday, police said.

Mullaly

Brown was charged with sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery. He was also held overnight on a $50,000 bond witrh a Monday court date, police said.

Brown

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel; SPD

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