Police identified two bank robbery suspects through Facebook and arrested them early Tuesday morning after an overnight investigation into a robbery at Webster Bank in Orange late afternoon the day before.
Brian Gittings, 27, of Shelton, and Amy Miranti, 23, of Trumbull, are facing charges in a robbery that happened at the bank at 247 Boston Post Road at 4:48 p.m. on Monday.
The Orange Police Department continued investigating overnight, getting more information from witnesses and members of the public in that time frame. They received an anonymous tip that led them to review some Facebook pages that helped identify Gittings and Miranti as the suspected bank robber and getaway driver in the case, police said. Police ultimately located the suspects in Shelton.
"This is an example of using good old fashion police work combined with today's social media that led to the successful and quick arrests in this case," Lt. Andrew Steinbrick said. "The Orange Police want to thank the public for spreading the word on yesterdays robbery and calling in leads to Investigators."
A man handed the bank teller a note demanding money and left with cash after she complied, police said. The amount of money he stole is unknown. An alarm at 4:50 p.m. alerted police about the bank hold-up and they canvassed the surrounding neighborhood for the bank robber.
A Milford K9 unit attempted to track him and ended its search at Racebrook Road near Neenan Road, where police learned he was last seen. A woman was seen parked in a black Nissan Altima, a possible getaway car, in that area between 4:30 and 5 p.m., police said.
Police said they learned that the man had visited the bank earlier in the day before the robbery. The robber and a woman were also seen in a car matching the same description, with front-end damage, at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, according to police.
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The Connecticut Bankers Reward Association offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to any arrests.
Shelton police assisted with the investigation.
Police charged Gittings and Miranti with third-degree robbery, fourth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit third-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny. They are both being held in police custody on a $25,000 bond and are scheduled to be arraigned in Derby Superior Court on Tuesday morning.
Both suspects have a history of crime, according to police.
