Store Employees Pepper-Sprayed During Theft Attempt

A shoplifting call at a mall store turned into something more serious in Farmington this week. Police say two women tried to steal merchandise from Nordstrom at Westfarms Mall on Monday night, then sprayed two loss-prevention employees with what investigators believe was pepper spray as they ran. The workers had minor injuries, but the bigger point is that this was no longer just a theft attempt once a chemical irritant got used. That changes the stakes fast. ### Where did this happen? The incident happened at the Nordstrom inside Westfarms Mall in Farmington, Connecticut. Officers were called there at about 8 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2026, for a reported larceny involving two female suspects. Westfarms is a major regional shopping center, so even a “store theft” call there draws attention — but this one escalated before police got there. (fox61.com) ### What do police say happened? The basic sequence is pretty straightforward. Police say the two women attempted to steal merchandise from the store. Loss-prevention employees followed them out, and the suspects then sprayed the employees with what police believe was pepper spray. After that, the women got away before officers could stop them. ### Who got hurt? Two loss-prevention employees were exposed to the spray and suffered what police described as minor injuries. (fox61.com) That matters because pepper spray is often treated as a quick way to create distance during a getaway, but it is still a weapon in practical terms — it causes pain, breathing trouble, and confusion long enough for suspects to escape. In other words, the moment it gets used on workers, the event stops looking like ordinary shoplifting and starts looking like a violent retail crime. (wtnh.com) ### What do the suspects look like? Police say both suspects are women and that they were wearing surgical masks during the incident. That detail helps explain why investigators released surveillance images and vehicle information instead of relying on face identification alone. In cases like this, the car can matter as much as the people. (fox61.com) ### What vehicle are police looking for? Investigators say the suspects left in a dark brown or tan Ford Edge. Police also said the SUV was using misused Connecticut registration plates. That is a useful clue, but also a complication — a plate that does not properly belong to the vehicle can make a quick lookup much less helpful and can point to broader efforts to hide the car’s identity. (fox61.com) ### Why release this now? Because the suspects were still unidentified when police went public. Releasing still images, suspect descriptions, and the vehicle information is basically the standard next move when officers think someone in the public may recognize the people or the SUV. Farmington police are asking anyone with information to contact the department. ### Is this still just a theft case? (fox61.com) Not really. The theft attempt is the starting point, but the use of pepper spray is what makes the case more urgent. Retail theft has always included grab-and-run cases, but when suspects carry an irritant and use it on employees during the escape, that suggests planning and a willingness to injure someone to get away. That is the part police will care about most. (wtnh.com) ### Bottom line Two Nordstrom employees at Westfarms got pepper-sprayed during an attempted theft, the suspects escaped in a Ford Edge with misused plates, and Farmington police are still trying to identify them. For shoppers, this was a brief scary incident. For investigators, it is now an assault case wrapped around a shoplifting call. (fox61.com)