Sock Leads Police to Suspect in Armed Robberies

A sock led police to a man accused of committing several armed robberies.

Brett Downs, 32, of Southington, Conn., is a suspect in two separate armed robberies at the Cumberland Farms at 1655 Meriden Road in Wolcott, police said, and he is also suspected of committing armed robberies in several other towns.

Early on the morning of Dec. 23, Downs went into the Wolcott Cumberland Farms with a knife, jumped over the counter, held the knife to the clerk's throat and demanding cash, police said.

After stealing the cash from the register, Downs ran from the store, police said.

Early on the morning of Jan. 31, Downs went back to the store and did the same thing, police said.

Detective Jeff Egan was able to link Downs to the robberies through DNA from a sock that Downs had worn on his hand and left behind at the scene, police said. 

Southington police also arrested Downs, who is suspected for committing a similar robbery.

He was arrested on Wednesday at the Waterbury Courthouse at 400 Grand Street after being brought to court from Hartford Correctional Facility, where he was being held on bond from the Southington robbery, police said.

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