Robbery, Home Invasion Suspect Arrested After Taking Wrong Keys: Cops

A West Haven man who stole a car and used it to rob a Dollar Tree in East Haven, then broke into a North Haven home and tried to steal a second car was arrested after a homeowner gave him the wrong set of keys, according to police.

Police said Rashonne Anderson, 32, of West Haven, stole a blue Pontiac Montana and drove it to the Dollar Tree at 32 Frontage Road in East Haven the night of Feb. 26.

He implied he had a gun and ordered the employees to the ground. Anderson took money from the cash register and left in the stolen Pontiac, according to police. The employees were shaken up but not physically hurt.

Police spotted the stolen Pontiac driving northbound on Maple Avenue in East Haven shortly after 10 p.m. When they tried to pull Anderson over, he led them on a chase that ended when he crashed into a snow bank, police said.

Anderson got out the passenger door and ran through the backyard of a home nearby. He forced his way inside a house on Maple Avenue and demanded keys to the resident's car, according to police.

A resident told police she was in her bedroom when she heard Anderson banging on her door. She got up and found him in her living room.

"All I want is your keys," he told her, according to police.

She directed him to her purse and he grabbed a set of keys. It turned out to be the wrong set, and Anderson couldn't get into the Toyota parked outside, police said.

With no access to a car, Anderson again ran. Officers chased him into the yard of a home on Laydon Avenue, where they arrested him, according to police.

He was charged with home invasion, first-degree burglary, reckless endangerment, interfering with police, second-degree criminal mischief, third-degree larceny, sixth-degree larceny, third-degree criminal attempt to commit larceny, engaging in a pursuit and other motor vehicle charges.

Anderson was held on a $250,000 bond and faced a judge in Meriden Superior Court on Friday.

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