Crime & Safety

Woman Arrested For Allegedly Robbing Three Area Banks

An Old Lyme Police Constable spotted a car driven by a woman suspected of bank robbery in East Lyme, Killingworth, Durham, and Essex that police traced to an address in Lyme. Police allege Susan Braig disguised herself as a man to commit the crimes


A woman suspected of robbing five local banks—two in East Lyme, one in Durham, one in Essex, and one in Killingworth—is in custody tonight after an Old Lyme Police Constable spotted a red wagon type vehicle with Vermont registration plates that matched witnesses descriptions of the getaway vehicle. 

Police traced the vehicle, which was first spotted in Old Lyme, to Susan Braig, 29, to 8 Sterling Hill Road in Lyme. Police say she was living in Lyme when they interviewed her—although the police report gives her address as 55 Cream Pot Road, Clinton. 

After meeting with police, Braig turned herself in at Troop F in Westbrook yesterday. She was charged with three counts of robbery in the first degree, three counts of larceny in the third degree, and three counts of threatening in the second degree. Bond was set at $150,000 for each of the robberies, for a total of $450,000. 

The initial charges stem from the three robberies that took place in Troop F's jurisdiction (Killingworth, Durham, and Essex). Police from Troop E are preparing additional arrest warrants for Braig, who is also suspected of robbing two banks in East Lyme. She was arraigned yesterday at Middletown Superior Court and held on bond. 

A Spree of Bank Robberies 

The State Police Central District Major Crime Squad and Troop F responded to three separate bank robberies at TD Bank, Route 81, Killingworth on November 2, 2012; Liberty Bank, Main Street, Durham, on December 6, 2012; First Niagara Bank, Main Street, Centerbrook section of Essex on January 8, 2013. 

Upon reviewing the banks surveillance videos, police say, it became apparent that all three banks were robbed by the same individual—a female disguising herself to look like a male.

As the investigations continued, information was developed, including the fact that the State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad was also investigating two additional bank robberies in East Lyme, at Liberty Bank, 314 Flanders Road on December 22, 2012, and at Savings Institute Bank & Trust, 305 Flanders Road on October 12, 2012 that, based on surveillance footage, appeared to have been committed by this same woman.

Connecticut State Police report that Hardwick Vermont Police were also investigating a bank robbery in their town with the same female suspect.     

A press release from Connecticut State Police is included in this report.
 


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