Police are searching for a convicted felon in connection with a car theft and two police chases this week.

When Burlington police tried to stop a vehicle on Monday morning that had been reported stolen the day before, the car took off, driving through the city at a high rate of speed, they said. Police broke off, fearing that the reckless getaway would injure someone or worse.

Police say that driver was Ian Gardner, 32.

In 2013, Gardner was sentenced to prison for robbing and nearly beating to death a Winooski woman with help from his then-girlfriend during a drug deal.

A day later, South Burlington Police tried to stop the same stolen car on Dorset Street, according to a Burlington Police news release. That touched off another chase that ended when the driver drove the wrong way down Interstate 89, prompting police to again break off.

The vehicle was later found abandoned in Colchester.

Burlington police suspect Gardner of stealing the vehicle from Maple Street on Saturday along with a victim's credit cards, then using the cards in a fraudulent shopping spree. Following an investigation by Burlington Police Officer Connor Palmateer, police alleged that Gardner had used the cards for hundreds of dollars of purchases in Burlington and South Burlington.

Burlington police are asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of Gardner or about the stolen car and credit card fraud to call them at 802-658-2704 or contact another local police department.

Contact Ryan Mercer at rmercer@freepressmedia.com or at 802-343-4169. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmercer1 and facebook.com/ryan.mercer1.