2 Business Robbed Within 12 Hours, Suspect Sought: East Haven PD

EAST HAVEN, CT — Police are asking for assistance in helping to identify the suspect responsible for two robberies that occurred within 12 hours of one another.

Two Frontage Road businesses were robbed approximately 12 hours apart from each other, apparently by the same suspect, Police Lt. Joseph M. Murgo said. On Sept. 14 at 10:38 p.m. a manager from Sunoco, 80 E. Frontage Road, called to report a robbery.

Upon officer’s arrival, it was determined that a white or Hispanic male with a scruffy mustache, approximately 5’-11” – 6’ wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a white logo over the left breast, gray or tan jeans and black shoes entered the gas station brandishing a knife, police said.

The suspect jumped over the counter and gained access to the cash register. The suspect fled the store a short time later with cash and fled the parking lot in a newer model dark gray / charcoal Honda Civic (possibly a Hybrid) with tinted windows, police said. The gas station employee did not report any injuries.

On Sept. 15 at 10:32 a.m. responded to Dunkin Donuts, 91 E. Frontage Road, for a report of a robbery. Upon officer’s arrival, it was determined that a white or Hispanic male suspect entered the business brandishing a knife.

The suspect reached over the counter and gained access to the cash register and took cash, police said. The suspect’s description was the same as the Sunoco Robbery, including 5’-11” – 6’ scruffy mustache, black hooded sweatshirt with white logo over left breast , gray or tan jeans and black shoes. The unidentified suspect fled westbound on Frontage Road in a dark gray / charcoal Honda Civic with tinted windows (license plate was removed).

"In both instances, employees made personal phone calls to their employers before calling the police, which created a significant time delay in both robberies," Murgo said. "While we urge robbery victims not to interfere with robberies in progress, we want them to call 911 as soon as the suspect leaves and it’s safe to do so. The sooner the call is made to police, the better the chance we have of getting officers to the area to apprehend criminal suspects."

Anyone who recognizes the pictured suspect is urged to call police at 203-468-3820 or message us via the East Haven Police Facebook page.