Bandits With Garbage Bags Invade West Hartford Stores

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Thieves carrying garbage bags raided two stores in West Hartford Tuesday, police said.

West Hartford police said they went to Westfarms at about 3:50 p.m. to investigate a reported robbery at Macy's. Macy's security staffers said that four people entered the store with large black garbage bags and began filling them with merchandise.

A Macy's loss prevention officer attempted to intervene and struggled with one of the suspects, according to a police report.

One of the four then reached for his waistband and implied he was armed, which caused the loss prevention officer let go and the thieves fled the store, police said.

Minutes later, the Ulta Store at 1555 New Britain Ave. in West Hartford reported that three people entered the store with garbage bags and stole a large amount of fragrances before fleeing in a vehicle, police said.

Ulta staffers reported that they received an alert from the Waterbury Ulta about a similar incident at about 3:30 pm.

The suspects fled in a dark grey color Toyota Highlander that was not located, police said.

The Macy’s loss prevention officer was not injured, police said.

The case is still under investigation. Anyone with information is being asked to call the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203.