Getaway Driver in Conn. Fur Heist is Caught in New Rochelle

Written by Barbara Heins (Patch Staff)

In a brazen Thanksgiving eve snatch-and-grab, a thief swiped several fur coats from the Saks Fifth Avenue in Greenwich, who with a getaway driver then headed to New Rochelle.

The getaway driver was caught by New York State Police on I-95 in New Rochelle, but the thief hopped into the driver’s seat, sped away, then crashed the getaway car before fleeing on foot, according to Greenwich Police. The thief remains at large.

The theft the furs worth more than $50,000 occurred about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at the store located at 205 Greenwich Ave., according to Greenwich Police Capt. Robert Berry.

In a statement, Berry said, ”about 11:15 a.m. a suspect entered the Saks Fifth Avenue, 205 Greenwich Ave., grabbed multiple fur coats with a total value in excess of $50,000 and ran out of the store without making payment. The suspect entered a waiting sedan containing at least one other suspect and the vehicle left the area at a high rate of speed.

“Witnesses provided Greenwich PD a vehicle description; an immediate broadcast was issued to all surrounding police agencies,” Berry said. “The New York State Police observed a vehicle matching the description on I-95 in New Rochelle and conducted a traffic stop on it. The operator exited the vehicle upon the direction of the state police but the passenger then got into the driver’s seat and drove away from the scene,” according to Berry.

“The suspect vehicle stopped a short time later after it crashed and the suspect fled that scene on foot. Police in New York are currently searching for that second suspect,” Berry said.

Berry also said, “The first operator of the vehicle is in the custody of New York State Police. Greenwich PD is currently working with New York authorities in order to continue the investigation. Charges from both Connecticut and in New York are pending.”

No injuries in Connecticut from this incident have been reported.

Photo: The rear entrance to Saks Fifth Avenue in Greenwich, Nov. 26, 2014. Photo credit: Barbara Heins