Robbery suspects’ photos released

By Rachael Scarborough King, Register Staff
May 24, 2008

NORTH BRANFORD — Police have released surveillance photos of the two suspects in Thursday’s armed robbery at the Northford Wachovia bank.

Two men entered the bank at about 1:20 p.m., took out guns and demanded money, police said. As they were leaving, a North Branford officer responding to the bank’s alarm spotted the suspects’ car and pursued them in a high-speed chase into North Haven.

The officer lost the car near the intersection of Route 22 and Mill Road, police said, and a subsequent search hit a dead end. The men were driving a blue, late 1980s General Motors car with the letters “CS” in the license plate, according to police.

Chief Matthew Canelli said the department is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State Police Major Crimes Squad in the investigation.

Several customers were in the bank at the time of the robbery. The suspects ordered them to lie on the ground before they jumped over the tellers’ counter to access the money, Canelli said. Someone inside the bank set off the alarm.

Police described the two men as between 6’ and 6’4” and of medium build. One wore a hooded rain poncho, while the other had on a hooded sweatshirt.

The bank has still not determined exactly how much money is missing, Canelli said.

Police are asking anyone who might have seen the car during the chase, or who has any other information about the robbery, to call a confidential tip line at 484-2201.