MONROE, CT — Warehouse Wine & Spirits and Glen Ro Spirit Shoppe were hit by a shoplifting duo known for targeting liquor stores. The couple stole hundreds of dollars worth of tequila from both Monroe stores Sunday.
At 1:30 p.m., the manager of Warehouse Wine & Spirits, 535 Monroe Turnpike, told police he recognized a Black male and female who entered his store from a picture a distributor put out to warn area stores about a string of thefts they allegedly committed.
The couple immediately walked to the back of the store, when the manager approached and told them he was calling the police, according to the report.
After the couple left, the manager reviewed surveillance footage showing the woman put a 1.75 liter bottle of Patrón Silver tequila in her brown purse, before the manager approached and they left the store without paying.
The bottle is valued at $89.99, police said.
The suspects are described as a Black woman with dreads with blonde highlights, wearing a red and white face mask, a white T-shirt with an unzipped black sweater over it, blue jeans and red sneakers; and a Black man wearing black T-shirt with a yellow logo, blue jeans, black shoes, a black hat and a dark face mask.
Police said the manager of Warehouse Wine & Spirits called the manager of Glen Ro Spirit Shoppe, 487 Monroe Turnpike, to warn him about the couple.
Glen Ro’s manager reviewed video surveillance footage from Sunday showing two people of the same exact description and clothing enter the store at 1:17 p.m.
The couple went to the Patrón tequila aisle, took two 1.75 liter bottles with a total value of just under $180, and placed it in the woman’s brown over-the-shoulder bag, according to the report.
The man is seen stuffing two .750 liter bottles of Porfidio tequila, valued at $159.99 each, into his pants, before the couple leaves the store and drives off in a black Nissan Armada, heading south on Route 111, police said, adding officers were unable to obtain the license plate number due to the quality of the video.
Both incidents are being investigated by the Monroe Police Department’s Detective Division.
Slap on Bart Road
Two 16-year-old juveniles were issued misdemeanor summonses for breach of peace after an altercation on Bart Road Saturday afternoon.
Police said a 15-year-old male was walking along the street when the two juveniles, a male and a female, drove by in a gray Honda. One allegedly flipped the pedestrian the bird, words were exchanged and the victim returned the favor, the report said.
That’s when the male driver turned the car around and came back, police said, adding the female allegedly got out of the car and slapped the victim, before she and the driver took off.
The victim called police and based on ensuing interviews, the two juveniles were charged and released on a promise to appear at Juvenile Court in Bridgeport on Wednesday.
Crash on Hammertown
A 26-year-old Waterbury man received an infraction following a two-vehicle-crash at the intersection of Hammertown and Fan Hill roads that sent two people to Bridgeport Hospital with suspected injuries Sunday afternoon.
Police said he was driving south on Hammertown Road in his black 2022 Toyota RAV4 at approximately 12:09 p.m., when he crossed the double yellow center line and struck a red 2016 Lexus RX 350 heading north on Fan Hill Road as it approached a stop sign at the intersection.
The driver of the Lexus, a 70-year-old Monroe man, and his 67-year-old female passenger, also from Monroe, were evaluated by Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel at the scene and taken to Bridgeport Hospital for further medical evaluation, police said.
The driver of the Toyota was issued an infraction for failure to drive in the established lane.
Both damaged vehicles were towed.
Unemployment scam
A 46-year-old Monroe man received a letter from the Connecticut Department of Labor about an unemployment claim opened using his name and Social Security number, according to a police complaint filed Friday.
The man told officers he is employed and did not file the claim. Police said he had filled out a report for the false claim on the Department of Labor’s website and needed to file the police report to document the fraud.
He was advised to monitor his bank accounts and credit history and to notify the Social Security Administration about the incident. Police said the victim did not suffer a financial loss.
Is it your beer?
Police seized 12 unopened cans of beer found behind Aubuchon Hardware, 590 Main St, Friday morning and placed it in the evidence room, until the owner claims it.
To claim it, call the Monroe Police Department’s general number at 203-261-3622 or come to the station at 7 Fan Hill Road.
