Store Employees Pepper-Sprayed in Theft

Farmington police are asking for the public’s help after two women allegedly used pepper spray on store employees during an attempted theft at Nordstrom in Westfarms Mall on Monday, May 11. Officers were called to the store at about 8 p.m. for a reported larceny, according to Farmington police. Investigators said the two suspects tried to steal merchandise and then sprayed what police believe was pepper spray on two loss-prevention officers who followed them out of the store. The women left before officers arrived, police said. ### Which store and mall were involved? Nordstrom at Westfarms Mall was the site of the incident, according to Farmington police and local television reports. The Nordstrom store lists its address as 600 Westfarms Mall in Farmington. Westfarms is one of central Connecticut’s largest shopping centers and spans the Farmington-West Hartford line. (wtnh.com) Monday’s report centered on the Nordstrom location inside the mall, where police said the attempted theft escalated as the suspects were leaving. Police did not say in the reports reviewed how much merchandise the women allegedly tried to take. ### What did police say happened at about 8 p.m.? Farmington police said officers responded at around 8 p.m. on May 11 after receiving a report of larceny at the store. (wtnh.com) Investigators said the two female suspects attempted to steal merchandise and sprayed two loss-prevention officers who were following them out of the store. Police and local news outlets described the substance as what officers believed to be pepper spray. Fox61 reported that the shoplifting call escalated after the use of the spray on employees. Farmington police have not, in the materials reviewed, announced arrests or identified the women by name. ### How did the suspects leave the area? (wtnh.com) Police said the two women left the mall area in a brown Ford Edge. Farmington police said the vehicle was using misused Connecticut registration plates believed to be BL06621. WTNH reported the suspects were wearing hooded sweatshirts with the hoods up and surgical-style masks. (fox61.com) Police have not, in the reports reviewed, released additional physical descriptions beyond that clothing information. ### Were the employees seriously hurt? The reports reviewed said two loss-prevention officers were sprayed, but Farmington police did not publicly describe the extent of their injuries. (wtnh.com) Fox61 referred to them as employees, while WTNH identified them as loss-prevention officers following the suspects out of the store. Neither report said the workers were hospitalized. Because police have not released more detail on the workers’ condition, the public account so far remains limited to the allegation that pepper spray was used during the suspects’ escape from the store. ### What are police asking the public to do now? Farmington police said they are seeking help identifying and locating the two suspects. (fox61.com) The department asked anyone with information related to the larceny to call 860-675-2400. As of Friday, May 15, the Town of Farmington’s public arrest-log page did not show a published arrest announcement tied to the case in the materials reviewed. (wtnh.com) The next step in the case is whether tips to Farmington police lead to the identification of the two women and the brown Ford Edge described in the department’s public appeal. (farmington-ct.org)