Vehicle Possibly Used in Wallingford Bank Robbery Recovered in New Haven

A Honda CRV that may have been used as a getaway vehicle in a Wallingford bank robbery was recovered after a man allegedly stole it and drove it to his probation meeting, according to police.

New Haven police first began investigating after a Stamford woman reported that a man stole her car after he threatened her in the Stop & Shop at 112 Amity Road on Sept.13, said Officer David Hartman, New Haven police spokesman.

The woman told police that the man approached her from behind as she was putting groceries in her car and told her to get away from the car and hat he had a gun, Hartman said. The woman complied and the man drove off with the vehicle; she wasn’t hurt.

Another witness said the alleged carjacker rode the bus to work and got on at the Whalley and Sherman Avenue stop.

Police obtained surveillance of the suspect getting off the bus near the Stop & Shop, Hartman said.

The surveillance footage was released within the law enforcement community. Probation officers called police and identified the man as Gary Harding, 26, of New Haven.

Police started preparing an arrest warrant as a plan was concocted to get Harding to meet with his probation officer. Harding arrived to the probation office on State Street in New Haven on Monday morning in the Honda CRV, Hartman said.

He was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree larceny.

Wallingford police are investigating the possibility that the car was used in a recent bank robbery, Hartman said.