Date: Fri 25-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

police-deli-robbery

Full Text:

Three Teenage Girls Charged With Deli Robbery

Police report a bizarre incident at about 8 pm September 18 in Hawleyville in

which three disguised teenaged girls carrying baseball bats entered

Hawlweyville Deli at 26 Hawleyville Road at closing time and robbed three

store employees.

Police later charged three girls with first-degree robbery. They are: Pam

Kiska, 16, of 40-A Mt Pleasant Road; Laura McNamara, 17, of 6 Driftway Drive;

and Tiffany Thomas, 18, also of 6 Driftway Drive.

Hawleyville Deli is a relatively isolated convenience store located near the

Housatonic Railroad's grade crossing over Hawleyville Road.

Just before the store was to close for business, three teens, who were wearing

bandanas over their faces and carrying baseballs bats, entered the deli,

police said. Three young store employees, two males and a female, were ordered

to lie on the floor as one of the three girls shouted out that a robbery was

in progress, police said.

One store employee ran from the deli to call police.

One young male employee was then sprayed in the face with the chemical

irritant Mace by one of the girls, police said. That male also was restrained

with duct tape, police said.

The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps later transported the injured male to

Danbury Hospital where he was treated and released, police said.

The girls threatened the store employees with baseballs bats as one of the

accused stole money from a cash register and a Lotto cash drawer, police said.

About $1,900 was stolen, as well as several cartons of cigarettes, police

said.

The three teenage girls then fled on foot to a getaway car, according to

police.

After a thorough investigation by five police officers, all three teenage

girls were arrested between 11 pm and midnight the night of the incident,

police said.

Most of the cash and cigarettes stolen in the robbery were recovered, police

said.

Thomas was held overnight at the police station and released the next day on a

$5,000 non-surety bond. McNamara was released on a $5,000 non-surety bond.

Kiska was released on a written promise to appear in court.

The three girls are scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court October 6 to

answer the robbery charges.

First-degree robbery is a Class B felony that carries a minimum sentence of

five years in prison.