Fairfield Woman And Accomplice Accused Of Robbing Store In Westport: Police

WESTPORT, CT — A Fairfield woman and a Bridgeport man were arrested last week by Westport police on warrants charging them in connection with a March robbery at Westport Hardware on the Post Road East, according to authorities.

Lydia Bell, 26, and Joshua Loveras, 28, surrendered to authorities and were arrested on May 29. They were charged with third-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit third-degree robbery, and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny. Bell was additionally charged with sixth-degree larceny and second-degree threatening.

The incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. on March 17, which was initially reported to Westport police as a larceny in progress, according to Capt. Eric Woods. Once officers arrived on-scene, they quickly determined, however, that it had been a robbery.

"The complainant reported that a male suspect allegedly entered the store and began looking around," Woods said in a statement. "The male then left the store, and a female entered the store and was asking for power tools. The female suspect allegedly stole two power tools totaling approximately $300.00 and left the store. A store employee encountered the female suspect in the parking lot where she allegedly told the employee that she had a knife and the male suspect, who was waiting in the car, had a gun. The suspects then fled the area in a vehicle that had been parked in front of the store."

Surveillance cameras recorded footage of the getaway car, and the employee was able to give police the license plate information. With the footage and help from other law enforcement agencies, Westport police were able to identify Bell and Loveras as the suspects.

The two were each held in lieu of bail of $75,000 and remain in custody. They are both scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Aug. 5.