Man calls in fake abduction to rob bank

Naugatuck, Conn. (WTNH) - A man reported an attempted abduction Saturday to divert police while he robbed a bank in Naugatuck.

Naugatuck Police said that the man called police on Saturday stating that he had observed a man holding a gun and trying to "grab a female" in the area of Ward Street. The caller then abruptly hung up.

As police began investigating the reported attempted abduction, they received another call reporting a suspicious vehicle by the Stop & Shop. Soon after, there was another call of the People's United Bank, located inside the Stop & Shop being robbed.

Witnesses described the car as a silver Saturn with California registration. Witnesses gave police the registration number, as well as a description of the two occupants, a man and woman.

After the robbery was committed witnesses saw the female wearing a red wig come running out of Stop & Shop and leave in the Saturn, traveling toward Field Street.

An off-duty officer who had heard details about the suspects and the vehicle on his company radio, spotted a silver Saturn with Connecticut plates operating erratically on Allerton Road. When the officer got a closer look he was able to confirm that the occupants matched the suspect descriptions.

State Police then aided in arresting the suspects when they pulled into a private residence.

Once in custody the suspects confessed to the crime and gave police the location of the red wig and California plates they had trashed.

Joshua Habib, 25, of 192 Hunter Dr., Litchfield, was charged with third-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, third-degree conspiracy to commit larceny, and first-degree falsely reporting an incident.

Brianna McCarthy, 22, also of 192 Hunter Dr., Litchfield, was charged with third-degree robbery, third-degree larceny, third-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, and third-degree conspiracy to commit larceny.

Both were held on $150,000 bonds and are scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on February 14th.