The Southington Police Department is investigating a late night motorcycle crash on Meriden Waterbury Turnpike that left two dead.

At about 10 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 30, police were dispatched to a serious motorcycle crash on Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, near Canal Street.

Adam Hicks, 37, of 15 Summer St., Meriden was operating a 2001 Harley Davidson, traveling westbound on the turnpike, when the bike was struck by a vehicle exiting a commercial driveway.

Hicks was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of his injuries. His passenger, Amanda Horvath, 26, of 19 Bishop St., Bristol, was rushed to an area hospital were she died as a result of her injuries.

Police have not released the name of the person driving the car.

The crash is currently under investigation by the Southington Police Department Accident Investigation Team. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Ward of the Southington Police Department at 860-621-0101 or 860-378-1600 ext. 2372.

The Southington Police Department has reported the following arrests.

Darlene Martino, 51, of 108 Midwood Ave., Wolcott, was charged on Sept. 20 with prostitution and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $5,000 with an Oct. 6 court date.

Brandy J. Milone, 24, homeless, was charged on Sept. 19 with prostitution. Bond was set at $5,000 with an Oct. 6 court date.

Lorijoe L. Gineo, 29, of 944 Asylum Ave., Hartford, was charged on Sept. 19 with prostitution and interfering with an officer. Bond was set at $5,000 with a Sept. 22 court date.

Joshua Miron, 25, of 23 Parkview Dr., was charged on Sept. 26 with second degree arson, first degree criminal mischief, interfering with an officer and disorderly conduct. Bond was set at $10,000 with a Sept. 26 court date.

Jody A. Brown, 57, of 1071 NW High Point Dr., Lee Summit MO, was charged on Sept. 26 with DUI and failure to drive in a proper lane. Bond was set at $5,000 with an Oct. 6 court date.

Ronald B. O’Dett, 34, of 2243 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, was charged on Sept. 29 with second degree breach of peace, first degree reckless endangerment, and first degree threatening. Bond was set at $5,000 with a Sept. 29 court date.

Joseph J. Crapo, 29, of 412 Lazy Lane, was charged on Sept. 27 with third degree trespass and sixth degree larceny. Bond was set at $1,500 with an Oct. 6 court date.

Elizabeth R. Moriarty, 23, of 166 Divinity St., Bristol, was charged on Sept. 27 with violation of a protective order. Bond was set at $3,000 with a Sept. 29 court date.

Matthew J. Paskov, 49, of 175 Clark St., was charged on Sept. 27 with DUI. Bond was set at $1,000 with an Oct. 6 court date.

Kenneth Bigwood, 24, of 916 Willow Lane, Williamstown NJ, was charged on Sept. 28 with second degree breach of peace. Bond was set at $5,000 with a Sept. 29 court date.

Wayne J. Lavertu, 50, of 30 Silver Oak, was charged on Sept. 28 with DUI. Bond was set at $500 with an Oct. 6 court date.

Lynn Pelletier, 22, of 237 Ridgewood Rd., was charged on Sept. 28 with disorderly conduct and use of a motor vehicle without permission. Bond was set at $2,500 with a Sept. 28 court date.

Kendall C. Sciola, 24, of 125 Howard Ave., was charged on Oct. 1 with first degree failure to appear and second degree failure to appear. Bond was set at $75,500 with an Oct. 1 court date.

A disturbance at the Double Tree Hotel on Century Drive resulted in a Southington man being arrested on breach of peace charges. The suspect made things worse for himself when he verbally attacked officers, police said.

John Thornton,30, of 2118 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike in Southington was arrested and charged with breach of peace in the second degree. After the altercation with police, he also was charged with second degree threatening.

Bristol police reported that around 6:27 on Monday, officers responded to the Double Tree Hotel, 42 Century Dr., on a complaint of a disturbance. Officers found a man had become unruly at the hotel, having grabbed a mop from a 27-year-old female employee as she was mopping the floor. Police said the suspect then began to mop the floor but became more aggressive and mopped over the employee’s shoes several times.

The employee requested the suspect to stop, said police. The suspect then turned his back to the employee and forcibly backed into her pushing her into a corner, said police.

Upon arrival, police said Bristol officers found the woman shaken and crying. The woman wished to press charges, said police.

Police said the breach of peace charges stem from the initial incident. The threatening charges followed after the suspect was taken into custody.

During his transport to the station and while being processed, police said Thornton shouted insults and expletives at officers and threatened them with bodily harm.

Thornton was released for an Oct. 27 court date at G.A. 17, the Superior Court in Bristol after posting a $20,000 bond.

A Wallingford man was arrested and charged with taking scrap metal from Superior Products this past summer.

On Friday, Oct. 10,

Robert Mangino

, 54, of Wallingford, was arrested on a warrant.

According to police, the warrant alleges that Mangino was stealing scrap metal from the property of Superior Products, located at 1457 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, between June 2014 and July 2014. A police investigation showed that during that time-frame, Mangino entered the property approximately 23 times, stealing scrap metal and selling it at local establishments.

The approximate value for the scrap metal was in excess of $10,000.

Mangino was charged with second degree larceny and 23 counts of second degree criminal trespass. He was held released on a $5,000 surety bond and given an Oct. 20 court date.

Southington police arrested a local woman after she charged officers with a knife when they responded to her house for a medical call.

On Thursday, Oct. 9, police responded to the Southington home of

Lisa Zubrowski

, 32, on a medical call. According to a press release, while the officers were on scene, Zubrowski brandished a knife, raised it above her head and charged toward the officers in a threatening manner.

Zubrowski did not comply with commands to drop the knife. Officers were able to subdue Zubrowski and remove the knife. Zubrowski was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Zubrowski was charged with criminal attempt/assault on a public safety/emergency personnel, threatening, first degree reckless endangerment, second degree breach of peace and interfering with an officer. She was held on a $10,000 bond.

The Southington Police Department has reported the following arrests.

Donald J. Anderson Jr., 55, of 72 Homesdale Ave., was charged on Oct. 1 with the sale of marijuana. Bond was set at $10,000 with an Oct. 20 court date.

Kenneth J. Lyden II, 31, of 2 Cliff St., Wolcott, was charged on Oct. 1 with sixth degree larceny. Bond was set at $500 with an Oct. 6 court date.

Awilda Ocasio, 47, of 72 Locust St., Bristol, was charged on Oct. 2 with sixth degree larceny. Bond was set at $500 with an Oct. 14 court date.

Elizabeth Watt, 25, of 135 Town Hill Rd., New Hartford, was charged on Oct. 3 with sixth degree larceny. Bond was set at $500 with an Oct. 14 court date.

Mileida V. Lozada, 24, of 69 Willow St., New Britain, was charged on Oct. 4 with sixth degree larceny. Bond was set at $500 with an Oct. 14 court date.

Rebecca M. Reardon, 22, of 44 School St., was charged on Oct. 5 with disorderly conduct. Bond was set at $500 with an Oct. 6 court date.

Matthew Keal, 49, of 32 Butternut Lane, was charged on Oct. 5 with DUI and failure to drive right. Bond was set at $500 with an Oct. 20 court date.

Giovanni I. Deleon, 18, of 14 West Center St., was charged on Oct. 6 with sixth degree larceny. Bond was set at $500 with an Oct. 20 court date.

Jade A. Krampitz, 44, of 235 West St., was charged on Oct. 7 with second degree reckless endangerment, risk of injury, following too close and DUI. Bond was set at $2,500 with an Oct. 20 court date.

Justin Kisluk, 26, of 220 South St., Bristol, was charged on Oct. 4 with DUI. Bond was set at $500 with an Oct. 14 court date.

By Lindsay Carey
Staff Writer
Businesses in town that experience vandalism will now be able to receive volunteer help to clean their facility, free of charge, as a part of the Act On It anti-vandalism campaign in town.
Businesses can call Youth Services at 860-276-6281 to get volunteer help to clean and remove graffiti from a business.
“You want to get rid of it as soon as possible,” said Town Councilor Dawn Miceli. “Research shows that the faster you can eradicate the vandalism the better, because they realize there are eyes watching.”
Miceli said that she got the idea to assist businesses in cleaning up vandalism after receiving some concerns from business owners about the time frame that they were expected to have the vandalism cleaned.
Earlier this year, businesses in town were asked to have vandalism removed about 24 and 48 hours after the crime.
“It’s costly and time consuming, so it’s hard for businesses to do” said Miceli. “We’re hoping to alleviate some of the angst and expense when private businesses are tagged with graffiti.”
Miceli, who has been leading the anti-vandalism campaign in town, said that she wanted to develop a volunteer base to help businesses with graffiti removal.
She shared the idea with Rob Flood, VP of Liberty Bank, and said he thought it was a great idea.
According to Miceli, Flood networks with all of the Boy Scout troops in town, as his son was a scout.
Flood and Miceli have already recruited two of the three Boy Scout troops in town and has made plans to talk to the third group with the help of Vince Sumpter, assistant District Commissioner and Community Chairman for Troop 32.
“We teach the boys about graffiti and how costly it is, and then ask them to be a part of the volunteer initiative,” said Miceli. “It’s great, because they get to learn about vandalism and the destructive behavior that serves no purpose in our community.”
Sumpter said part of being a Boy Scout is cart of maintaining cleanliness and being charitable.
“I think it’s going to help show them what not to do,” said Sumpter. “These individuals are going out and spray painting everywhere and their ruining someone’s property.
Besides showing the Boy Scouts how damaging vandalism is, Sumpter said that he believes the initiative will make the troops more vigilant.
“I think they’ll start to keep an eye out for vandals and to report it,” said Sumpter.
In addition to help from the Boy Scouts, Miceli reached out to Kelly Leppard from STEPS and was informed of a link on the town’s website called “Southington Serves.”
The webpage is for young people that need to complete community service hours.
Places that need volunteers can post a listing and receive help.
Miceli said that she made a post requesting volunteer help for vandalism on the webpage and has recruited seen some interest in participating.
Miceli found out from Town Manager Garry Brumback that the town uses a specific solution to remove graffiti from schools and municipal buildings called “Tagster.”
According to Miceli, it is a non toxic solution that easily removes graffiti. Miceli said that she and Flood will be distributing Tagster to the volunteers when they go out to remove vandalism.
However, a case of Tagster costs $225, so Miceli is going to begin soliciting donations by going around to ask civic groups in Southington if they would like to contribute.
With the help of Flood, Liberty Bank purchased the first case.
The ACT On it campaign is multifaceted including an anonymous community tip line, potential consequences involving the Juvenile Review Board, a reward system and police activity.
It seems vandalism may be increasing in activity, as there were reportedly two more strikes of vandalism within a week of the Berlin Ave incident, which led town officials to set a reward of $200 to $1,000 for the vandal.
“We take pride and we are going to take action in our community,” said Miceli.

Comments? Email lcarey@southingtonobserver.com or visit our website at Southingtonobserver.com.

A local 16-year-old youth was held on robbery charges after he allegedly stole a cell phone from a woman exiting her vehicle in the parking lot of the Southington Library.

Police responded to the call on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m. According to police, the female victim was exiting her car in the parking lot when the male suspect approached her, asking if he could use her phone. Before the victim could answer, the youth forcibly grabbed the phone and ran off.

The victim was not injured during the incident.

According to a police press release, the suspect was found getting into a vehicle in the parking lot of Derynoski School, which is across the street from the library. The suspect was found in possession of the phone and was identified by the victim.

The suspect was charged with third degree robbery and fifth degree larceny. He was referred to juvenile court with a Nov. 5 appearance date.

Southington police reported the following arrests:
••Joseph Romano, 25, of 52 Kent St, Plainville was arrested on Oct. 27 and charged with sixth degree larceny.
•Biagio A. Dilieto, 31, 1 Blackstone Ave, Branford, was arrested on Oct. 28 and charged with possession of less than 1/2 ounce of marijuana.
•Douglas R. Ruhm, 42, 115 Oak St., Southington was arrested on Oct. 29 and charged with first degree criminal trespass.
•James P. Cardinal, 31 of 175 Berlin Ave, Southington was arrested on Oct. 29 and charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief second degree.
•Austin Baker, 20, of 31 Visconi Ave., Southington was arrested on Oct. 29 and charged with breach of peace and threatening first degree.
•Darcy L. Dec, 42, of 230 Blakeslee St., Bristol was arrested on Oct. 21 and charged with driving under the influence.
•Louis A. Decrosta, 32, of 61 Whiting St., Plainville was arrested on Oct. 21 and charged with sixth degree larceny.
•Jonathon Rosario, 28, of 326 Hawthorne Ave., Yonkers, N.Y. was arrested on Oct. 23 and charged with sixth degree larceny and third degree criminal trespass.
•Greg Bolduc, Jr., 31, of 36 Whiting St., Plainville was arrested on Oct. 24 and charged with sixth degree larceny, conspiracy to commit sixth degree larceny.
•Nicole M. Bell, 27, of 344 Clark St., Southington was arrested on Oct. 24 and charged with conspiracy to commit sixth degree larceny. She also was charged in another incident with failure to appear second degree.
•Katherine G. Barron, 41, of 152 Juniper Rd., Southignton was arrested on Oct. 25 and charged with driving under the ifluence, failure to drive in a proper lane.
•Nicholas Mosher, 35, of 33 Wheeler St., Winsted was arrested on Oct. 25 and charged with second degree harassment.
•Nathan C. Nadeau, 34, of 72 Water St., Southington was arrested on Oct. 26 and charged with driving under the influence and failure to maintain lane.
•Paula A. Donatelli, 50 of 1000 South Main St., Southington was arrested on Oct. 27 and charged with second degree failure to appear.
•Lori J. Desjardins, 38, of 1459 Mount Vernon Rd., Southington was arrested on Oct. 27 and charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with an officer.
•Christina M. Paul, 50, of 203 Hitchcock Rd., Southington was arrested on Oct. 27 and charged with fifth degree larceny.
•

Detectives in Southington are looking for a man who assaulted an employee and stole the cash box from the register from the Dairy Farms store on Berlin Street on Friday, Nov. 7.

According to a police report, “a lone suspect rushed into the store, pushed the employee behind the service counter and demanded money.”

After grabbing the cash box, the suspect fled the scene, said police. The Southington Police Department received the report about the robbery around 8 p.m.

Although the suspect did not display a weapon, his actions may have been threatening to the employee.

“The push is what caused the robbery,” said Sergeant Jeffrey Dobratz. “It was larceny by force.”

The victim of the assault and robbery was not injured from the push.

However, the victim described the suspect to the police as a 200 pound male around 5’9” with a medium to large build, according to a police report. Police said he wore the hood of his dark sweatshirt or windbreaker up with a face cover to conceal his identity.

The report also says that he was wearing gray pants, a light colored t-shirt, and light colored sneakers.

The K-9 track was not able to locate the suspect that night; however, the police report said the Southington Police Detective Division is currently investigating the incident.

At press time, police said they suspect this was an isolated episode and the detectives do not have any leads.

“It seems like a random incident at this time,” said Dobratz.

If anyone has information regarding the robbery, contact Detective Lewis Palmieri at (860)378-1646 or lpalmieri@southingtonpolice.org.

Southington police reported the following arrests:
•Maurizio Marcuccio, 34, of 223 Meriden Ave., Southington, was arrested on Nov. 5 and charged with sixth degree larceny.
•Roman A. Paszczuk, 58, of 333 Old Turnpike Rd., Plantsville, was arrested on Nov. 6 and charged with driving under the influence and failure to drive in proper lane.
•Anthony Angelone, 27, of 215 Old Turnpike Rd., Southington, was arrested on Nov. 7 and charged with second degree failure to appear. He was also charged in two other incidents of failure to appear second degree.
•Jeffrey B. Potter, 41, of 184 Marion Ave., Southington, was arrested on Nov. 7 and charged with violation of a restraining order and violation of a protective order.
•Derrick Javer Dargan, 32, of 5615 Old Leesburg Rd., Hopkins, S.C., was arrested on Nov. 8 and charged with failure to appear second degree.
•Marcin P. Szwedo, 26, of 62 Terrace Lane, Meriden, was arrested on Nov. 8 and charge with disorderly conduct, third degree criminal trespassing, and second degree harassment.
•Jessica L. Vitale, 35, of 242 Queen St., Bristol, was arrested on Nov. 9 and charged with second degree burglary, fifth degree larceny, and ATM fraud.

Southington police reported the following arrests:
•Daniel F. Soule Jr., 26, of 1476 Meriden Waterbury Rd., Plantsville, was arrested on Nov. 10 and charged with second degree failure to appear.
•David V. Divalentino, 51, of 15 South Rd., Southington, was arrested on Nov. 11 and charged with operating a motor vehicle under suspension. He was also charged with second degree breach of peace.
•Nathan St. Martin, 22, of 75 Warren St., Cheshire, was arrested on Nov. 12 and charged with disorderly conduct, first degree criminal mischief and interfering with 911.
•Lukasz Kaziul, 31, of Southington, was arrested on Nov. 14 and charged with patronizing a prostitute.
•Paolo Mazzicato, 40, of Avon, was arrested on Nov. 14 and charged with patronizing a prosititute.
•Ronald Murphy, 56, of Farmington, was arrested on Nov. 14 and charged with patronizing a prosititute. He was also charged with interfering with an officer.
•Paul Tommasino, 54, of Meriden, was arrested on Nov. 14 and charged with patronizing a prosititute.
•Dana Layton, 59, of Union City, CA, was arrested on Nov. 14 and charged with patronizing a prosititute.
•David Tonseth, 58, of Marlborough, NH, was arrested on Nov. 14 and charged with patronizing a prosititute.

A suspect is being detained, although no charges have been filed, following a robbery at a West Street gas station.

Southington police said that on Nov. 23 at about 11:37 a.m., the department received information to be on the lookout for a red Ford F150 pickup truck operated by Travis Gornto for an incident that occurred earlier in Bristol.

Then at 11:39 a.m. on Sunday, the police received a report a robbery had just occurred at the Sunoco Gas Station at 957 West St., Southington.

Police said officers responded to the scene and found the suspect had fled with an undetermined amount of money.

In the incident, police reported, the suspect implied having, but did not display, a weapon. No injuries were reported during the robbery, said police.

As the suspect fled the scene, police said, the clerk was able to obtain a registration plate for the vehicle. The description of the West Street robbery suspect matched the description provided by Bristol police of Gornto and his vehicle.

Southington police detectives responded to the scene and continued with the investigation, said the department. A suspect description was provided to Connecticut Police Departments.

Police said the suspect vehicle was spotted in New Haven and the vehicle and the suspect as later located and taken into custody in the Town of Derby.

Police said the suspect is currently in police custody at a local hospital for a medical evaluation.

Police said a sealed arrest warrant has been obtained for the suspect. Based on the ongoing medical evaluation, the suspect has not been formally charged or processed by the Southington Police Department

Due to the warrant being sealed, police said no further information can be given at this time.

This is an ongoing investigation and more information will be provided as it becomes available, said the Southington Police Department.

As motorists take to the roads this holiday travel period and beyond, Southington Police are urging everyone to buckle up.

Beginning today, Nov. 25, and running through Nov. 30, law enforcement officials will be out in full force, taking part in the 2014 national “Click It or Ticket” Occupant Protection enforcement mobilization and cracking down on motorists who are not belted, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and distracted driving.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Southington police reported, 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. Seat belts save an estimated 11,949 lives nationwide according to NHTSA.

While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from Nov.25 through Nov. 30, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round.

For more on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization, visit www.nhtsa.gov

Six people, including three juveniles, were arrested in connection with an assault at a party on Halloween, Southington police reported this week.

Police said there was an assault of a victim at a party on Oct. 31 in Southington. When witnesses attempted to intervene on behalf of the victim and stop the assault, police said, another witness also was assaulted and threatened by the suspects.

As a result of the assault, police said, both victims reported injuries. They sought treatment at local medical facilities.

The warrant also alleges that during the course of the assault and at times after this incident, the witnesses and victims were threatened by the suspects against speaking to the police.

The following were charged in the incident:

James Wernicki, 24, of Plantsville was arrested and charged with tampering with a witness, two counts of second degree, reckless endangerment first degree, and breach of peace second degree.

Andrew D’Agostino, 18, of Southington was arrested on a warrant and charged with two counts of tampering with a witness, assault second degree, threatening second degree, reckless endangerment first degree, and breach of peace second degree.

Darrell Hotham, 25, of Southington was arrested on a warrant and charged with tampering with a witness, assault second degree, reckless endangerment first degree, and breach of peace second degree.

The three 17 year old juveniles were referred to the juvenile courts. One was charged with tampering with a witness, reckless endangerment first degree, and breach of peace second degree. The second was charged with tampering with a witness, assault second degree, threatening, reckless endangerment first degree, and breach of peace second degree. The third was charged with tampering with a witness, two counts of second degree assault, assault third degree, reckless endangerment first degree, criminal mischief second degree, and breach of peace second degree.

James Wernick

Andrew D’Agostino

Darrell Hotham

Police have released additional information about the Nov. 24 arrest in connection with the Nov. 23 robbery of the Sunoco Gas Station at 957 West St., in Southington.

Police said that on Dec. 2, Travis Gornto, 43, of East Windsor was turned over to the custody of the Southington Police Department. Police said Gornto was transported to the Southington Police Department where he was processed and charged with robbery in the first degree and larceny in the fifth degree.

Police said Gornto was held on a court set bond of $50,000 and presented in court on Dec. 2.

Police said the the investigation is ongoing.

The arrest warrant remained sealed at the time of the arrest and no further information can be released at this time.

Travis Gornto

Members of the Southington Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit conducted unannounced liquor sale compliance inspections at 20 liquor stores/convenience stores where alcoholic beverages are sold on Nov. 28. Six stores were caught selling to a minor, said police.

Police used a “cooperating individual who was 18-years old without any forms of identification entered the stores and attempted to make a purchase of alcoholic beverages,” a press release from the department explained.

The following six businesses were found to be in violation by selling alcoholic beverages to a minor, said police:

• Queen Street Liquors – 1079 Queen St.
• South Town Liquors – 685 Queen St.
• Lefty’s Package Store – 1207 South Main St.
• Milldale Discount Liquors – 1664 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike
• Wineland Wine and Spirits – 1545 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike
• West Side Spirits – 718 West St.

Police also said the selling clerk/cashier was issued a misdemeanor summons and charged with Sale of Alcohol to a Minor, CGS 30-86.

The following 14 businesses were found to be in compliance and did not sell alcoholic beverages to a minor, said police.

• M & R Liquors – 920 Queen Street
• Wine Works – 1700 West St.
• World Wide Wine and Spirits – 480 Queen St.
• Southington Wine and Spirits – 235 Queen St.
• Liquor Outlet – 400 North Main St.
• Dairy Farms – 68 Berlin St.
• Dairy Plus – 64 South Center St.
• Bridge Package Store – 133 West Center St.
• South Main Street Liquors and Wine – 857 South Main St.
• Super 66 Liquors – 975 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike
• Sassy Liquors – 264 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike
• Little Red Store – 252 Marion Ave.
• Country Farms Convenience – 682 West St.
• Colonial Spirits – 255 Berlin Ave.

Police said the department will continue its efforts to investigate and enforce any state laws and town ordinances concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors.

Police made an arrest on Tuesday in connection with a rape of a minor back in June. The suspect is being held on a half million doll ar bond

On Dec. 9 at 11:15 A.M., police arrested Walter Ronewicz, 76, at his Southington residence.

Police said Ronewicz was charged with one count of sexual assault in the first degree and one count of risk of injury to a minor.

An arrest warrant was issued as a result of an investigation of an incident that was reported to the Department of Children and Families in June 2014, Southington police said. The warrant, said police, accuses Ronewicz of sexually assaulting the victim (who is a minor) within the Town of Southington.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Southington Police Department for booking.

Ronewicz was held on a $500,000 court issued bond and given an appearance date of Dec. 10, in Bristol Superior Court.

The arrest warrant was sealed. Police said no other details are forthcoming.

Walter Ronewicz

The Plainville Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred on Thursday night shortly after 6 p.m. at the American Eagle Federal Credit Union on New Britain Avenue, Plainville.

Police said a lone male entered the bank while brandishing a firearm and demanded the the employees hand over money. Police said the male made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police said no one was injured in the incident.

Police said the suspect was described as white with an Eastern European accent. He is about 5’8” tall and appeared to have an average build. Police said he was wearing a dark jacket, gray hood, a dark baseball cap, and had a mask covering his face.

Police said detectives are exploring the possibility that this robbery may be related to others in the area.

Webster Bank on Pine Street in Bristol was robbed Tuesday night, according to Bristol police. The description of the suspect, according to the Bristol reports, was similar to the Plainville incident, right down to the Eastern European accent.

Police said anyone with information is asked to call Detective Marc Rivard at (860) 747-1616.

Police provided these surveillance photographs of the suspect who robbed the American Eagle Federal Credit Union on New Britain Avenue, Plainville.

Police provided these surveillance photographs of the suspect who robbed the American Eagle Federal Credit Union on New Britain Avenue, Plainville.

The Southington Police Department has released some crime prevention tips for the holiday season.

When you are shopping:

• Remember where you parked your vehicle. Always park in a well-lit and well-traveled area. Avoid dark, remote spots.
• Look inside your parked car before you enter. Check to see if you are being followed.
• Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle.
• When storing items purchased at the stores, place them out of sight. The best place is in a locked trunk.
• Do not leave your purse, wallet, or cellular phone in open view.
• Don’t resist if someone tries to take any of your belongings. Don’t chase someone who robs you. They may have a weapon. Call 911.
• Lock your vehicle and put up your windows even while you are driving.
• Only visit automatic teller machines that are well-lit and in a safe location. Be aware of people around you.
• Carry only the credit cards you need and avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
• If you make a purchase with your credit card, be sure to obtain the carbons or see that they are destroyed in front of you.
• Beware of the “good deal” scams. Things are not always what they appear to be.
• If you are purchasing toys for small children, be sure that they are safe. You will be surprised what a small child can swallow or what can injure them.

When you are at home:

• Be cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.
• When leaving home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail.
• Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer.
• Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.
• Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home.
• When setting up a Christmas tree or other holiday display, make sure doors and passageways are clear.
• Be sure your Christmas tree is mounted on a sturdy base so children, elderly persons, and family pets are unable to pull it over on themselves.
• Make sure any Christmas tree lights are undamaged or unfrayed. Frayed or damaged wiring can cause fires.
• Place your Christmas tree in water or wet sand to keep it green.
• Never place wrapping paper in your fireplace.

When a stranger visits your door:

• Be aware that criminals sometimes pose as couriers delivering gifts.
• It is not uncommon for criminals to take advantage of the generosity of people during the holiday season by soliciting donations door-to-door for charitable causes although no charity is involved.
• Ask for their identification, and find out how the donated funds will be used. If you are not satisfied, do not donate.
• Donate to a recognized charitable organization.

When you are hosting a Party:

• Have non-alcoholic beverages available for party guests.
• Find alternative transportation for intoxicated guests.
• Arrange for an official designated driver for your party who will not drink at all.

When you are attending a Party:

• Have something to eat before consuming alcoholic beverages.
• Eat high protein foods that will stay in your stomach longer and slow the absorption of alcohol into your system.
• Remember that time is the only way to eliminate alcohol from your body.
• Know your safe limit.
• Never drink and drive.

When caring for children:

• If possible, leave small children at home with a trusted babysitter.
• Teach your child to go to a store clerk and ask for help in case your child is separated from you.
• Teach children to stay close to you at all times while shopping.
• Never allow children to make unaccompanied trips to the restroom.
• Children should never be allowed to go to the car alone and they should never be left alone in the car.
• Teach children their full name, address and telephone number to give to police officers or mall security. •Teach children to immediately inform you if a stranger is bothering them.

When visiting an Automated Teller Machine (ATM):

• If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a police station, mall, or well-lighted location. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.
• Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.
• Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.