Southington Police: Gas Station Robbery Caused Schools To Enter 'Secure Mode' Thursday

SOUTHINGTON, CT - Police said it was a robbery at a Main Street gas station that caused several schools to go into "secure mode" Thursday morning.

At 9:43 a.m., the Southington Police Dept. responded to the Citgo station at 202 Main St. for a reported armed robbery. The store clerk told officers that a man entered the store, pulled out a knife and walked directly to the counter, according to a news release.

The man demanded money and the store clerk picked up a stool to defend himself, police said.

The bandit then ran out of the store in a westerly direction behind the store, police said. The suspect did not get any money during the incident and the store clerk was not injured, police said.

The store clerk did not hit the suspect with the stool, police said.

Officers responded to the scene, canvassed the area and conducted a track with a police dog team that was unsuccessful, according to a news release.

The suspect is being described by police as a 5-foot-8 white male about 21 years old with a thin build. Police said he was described by the clerk as wearing a black hat, dark glasses and had a black bandana with a white design covering his face. He also had on a black hoodie sweatshirt and black sweatpants, white sneakers and he was armed with a large knife, police said.

As a result of this incident schools in close proximity to the gas station where put in “secure school mode” to prevent anyone from going in or out of the schools during the search.

The secure school mode was lifted at 11:10 a.m., school officials said.

The Southington Police Dept. is currently investigating the incident and anyone with information is asked to call the the detective division at 860-621-0101.

Police issued surveillance photo of the suspect.