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Yellow PagesEast Windsor Man Arrested In Connection With Robberies
- Original Hartford Courant article: East Windsor Man Arrested In Connection With Robberies
An East Windsor man whom police describe as a heroin-addicted serial robber was arrested Wednesday in connection with April holdups in East Hartford and South Windsor. Thomas Phillips, 41, was arrested on warrants charging him with robbing five stores in the two neighboring towns. He lived on South Main Street in East Windsor until his May 3 arrest by Windsor Locks police, who say they found him in a motel lobby after he struggled with the owner of a package store in a bungled holdup, robbed a gas station convenience store, engaged police in pursuit and hid in the ceiling rafters of Bradley Bowl. Phillips was more successful in hiding from police April 23, when he climbed a tree outside his home as soon as he saw officers coming, the arrest warrants state.
Phillips is suspected of committing more than a dozen robberies in Hartford-area towns. The holdups were similar, with either a knife or gun being used by a stocky man wearing a mask with a unique brim and red symbol or lettering. He would always take the cash drawer at each store, police said - usually a convenience store.
He told police he was robbing stores to support his drug habit: He said he used about 20 bags of heroin a day. The holdups he is accused of in East Hartford and South Windsor include: A gunpoint robbery at the Sunoco gas station convenience store, 5 John Fitch Blvd., or Route 5, in South Windsor, April 20. After the holdup, an East Hartford officer pulled him over, but Phillips drove away, eluding pursuing patrol cars. A gunpoint robbery at the Shell gas station convenience store, 123 School St. in East Hartford, April 19. A knifepoint robbery at Sam's Foodstore, 194 Main St. in East Hartford, April 14. During his arraignment Wednesday in Superior Court in Manchester, Phillips' bail was set at $450,000. His next court date was scheduled for July 30.
Contact Christine Dempsey at cdempsey@courant.com .
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