On Jan. 26 at approximately 9:15 a.m., officers in the North Haven Police Department (NHPD) responded to the area of Grand Apizza North for the report of a purse snatching. Upon arrival, it was learned that an 18-year-old female was the victim of a purse-snatching robbery that involved a struggle over the purse and her falling to the ground.

Thankfully, the victim of the robbery was not seriously injured. She advised officers that the suspects had fled southbound on Washington Avenue in a gray SUV with out-of-state plates. A North Haven officer working a southern district in town responded to the area of I-91 South to intercept the vehicle in case it had gotten on the highway.

The officer observed a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle traveling on I-91 South and attempted a motor vehicle stop. The vehicle failed to stop and engaged the officer in pursuit. The officer pursued the vehicle to the area of exit 6 in New Haven, where multiple occupants fled from the vehicle.

This information was broadcast to the New Haven Police Department and, in coordination with additional NHPD members, New Haven Police, and the statewide violent crimes task force—to which the NHPD has officers assigned—three juvenile suspects were apprehended. Arrested were two 16-year-old males and a 14-year-old male, all from New Haven. The three suspects were charged with various motor vehicle charges, in addition to robbery and larceny offenses. The suspect vehicle, which had been stolen, was towed back to NHPD headquarters to be processed for additional evidence.