Montville bank robber makes bomb threat

Montville (WTNH) - The State Police Bomb Squad suited up for a potentially dangerous situation. Just after noon police say a woman, in her twenties to thirties, wearing a blue-hooded sweatshirt went into the Citizens Bank on Route 32 in Montville claiming she had a bomb in her bag.

"She placed a bag on the counter of the bank and produced a note indicating to give her money or the people in the bank would be hurt," said Sgt. Richard Crooks of the State Police Department.

The woman took off leaving the bag behind.

"There were police cars everywhere," said Cindy Zarbo, owner of Curves.

Zarbo's Curves is across the street from the bank. With the street blocked off, no one could come, or go, from the plaza. She said it didn't hurt her business.

Detelj: "So you didn't lose too many customers?"
Zarbo: "No. In fact they were all inside. In fact, they were wondering if they could leave."

Police say the suspect may also be tied to an earlier incident at nearby Mohegan Sun Casino.

"There was, I don't know if it was a successful, or attempted, purse snatching at Mohegan Sun. We're investigating now to see if there is any correlation between those two incidents," said Sgt. Crooks.

Police are also looking into the possibility that this same woman may have tried to rob another bank earlier today.

They say tellers at that other bank say a woman, fitting the same description, was acting suspiciously and uneasy but then took off.

Police believe that is how she may have ended up at the Montville bank.

After x-raying the brown bag, left by the woman, State Police gave the all clear; there are no bombs and no more road blocks on the busy Montville road.

"I have never seen so many police cars in Montville," said Zarbo.

Police say they are following several leads.

The woman reportedly took off in a gray colored car.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Montville authorities at (860) 848-7040.