EAST HAVEN — A purse snatching at a local Stop & Shop on Sept. 20 led to a high-speed chase involving a stolen vehicle and the search for at least three suspects, officials said.
According to the East Haven Police Department, officers were dispatched to the grocery store on 370 Hemingway Avenue at approximately 7:49 a.m. after a report of a robbery.
A blue Kia Sportage with Massachusetts registration 6CSV19 was identified as the vehicle used to steal the purse of an elderly woman in the parking lot.
The vehicle was later discovered to have been stolen from Milford during the early hours of the same day.
Witnesses also reported seeing the Kia Sportage in the vicinity of Burr Street and Gerrish Avenue, with occupants throwing items — later identified as several purses and backpacks — from the windows.
Officer Stephen Marsico spotted the stolen vehicle traveling east on Frontage Road, subsequently heading north on I95 towards Branford.
Officer Donato Palma later found the Kia on Route 1 in Branford near Walmart.
Once the suspects noticed the police, they fled southbound on I95 at high speed.
Despite positioning units to apprehend the suspects should they return, the pursuit ended when the Kia was found abandoned in New Haven near Congress Avenue.
Witnesses saw three males running from the scene.
Further investigation, including video surveillance from Stop & Shop, revealed the suspects had also attempted to steal a red Ford Explorer before the purse snatching incident.
Detectives have processed the abandoned Kia Sportage and are calling for anyone with information about the incident to contact the East Haven Police Department at 203-468-3820.
