SOUTHINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) — Southington Police are investigating a carjacking that took place on Sunday afternoon.
According to police, thieves first robbed a bank inside a Southington Stop & Shop located at 505 North Main Street. The suspect handed the teller a note demanding money. He then got in a red minivan that another man drove. They took off, but police saw them and tried to stop them. The suspects made a U-turn and headed south on Route 10 to try to get away.
The van got a flat tire and the driver stopped at a Shell gas station. Police caught up with them, arresting one of them.
“They were able to take him into custody and a knife was found nearby, so it’s believed that that might have fallen off him,” said Lt. Steve Elliott of the Southington Police Department.
Main Street was closed for part of the afternoon as police investigated.
Police are still searching for the other person involved. That suspect stole a white Jeep as a man filled it with gas. His wife and two young grandchildren were inside.
Nasar Algahmi was working at the gas station and saw the carjacking.
“[The man] was screaming,” Algahmi said. “He said, ‘the kids in the car, the kids in the car!’ And he was losing his mind.”
The second suspect is believed to be driving the white Jeep Cherokee with a Connecticut plate reading AJ 13246.
The suspect dropped the woman and children off in a commuter lot off I-84. They were not hurt.
“I’m happy because they’re safe. I’m really happy. I feel bad for him, but I’m happy they’re safe,” said Algahmi. “I can’t believe that’s happened in Southington because I’ve been working here almost ten years. [This has] never happened.”
