Hamden police: Man stole 9-year-old’s bike at gunpoint, threatened to shoot store employees

Hamden police released this surveillance photo of a man who allegedly robbed a nine-year-old of his bicycle at gunpoint then threatened to shoot workers at a Dollar General store. Hamden police released this surveillance photo of a man who allegedly robbed a nine-year-old of his bicycle at gunpoint then threatened to shoot workers at a Dollar General store. Photo: Photo Courtesy Of The Hamden Police Department Photo: Photo Courtesy Of The Hamden Police Department Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Hamden police: Man stole 9-year-old’s bike at gunpoint, threatened to shoot store employees 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

HAMDEN >> Police are searching for a man who allegedly robbed a 9-year-old at gunpoint before threatening to shoot employees at a Hamden store late last week.

The man shoved a gun in the face of the young boy Friday afternoon and stole the bicycle the boy had been riding on Ridge Road, police said.

The bike was later found near Dollar General, 1926 State St., where the man is accused of going inside, concealing items on his person and trying to leave the store.

Employees tried to stop the man but he told them he had a gun and would shoot them, Hamden police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith said Monday in a release.

As the man tried to leave the store, the employees shut down the sliding glass door to lock him in, but the man used a metal shelf to break out of the store, according to the release.

Police responded to the store at about 5 p.m. Friday to investigate.

Smith said the suspect is described as a white or Hispanic man in his 40s who was wearing a baseball cap.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brian Stewart of the Hamden Police Department Detective Division at 203-230-4040.