New Haven police are searching for a man who entered the A to Z Market on Orchard Street at midday on March 18, 2026, displayed a firearm, and demanded cash from the register before fleeing the store on foot without injuring anyone.
The incident was reported at approximately 12:40 p.m. Officers from the New Haven Police Department responded to the Orchard Street location and canvassed the surrounding neighborhood but were unable to locate the suspect. The employee who was threatened during the robbery was not physically harmed.
According to police, the suspect entered the convenience store, produced a gun, and threatened an employee before demanding money. The employee turned over an undisclosed amount of cash from the register, and the suspect then fled the premises on foot. Police have not publicly identified a specific direction of flight or escape route.
Investigators have released an image of the suspect and are asking members of the public to help identify him. The suspect is described as a Black man who was wearing a green jacket and black pants at the time of the robbery. He also had a mask covering his face, according to police.
The New Haven Police Department is urging anyone with information about the robbery or the individual in the released image to contact detectives at 203-946-6304. Those who wish to remain anonymous may submit a tip through the department's dedicated tip line at 866-888-TIPS (8477).
Police have not announced any arrests in connection with the robbery and have not indicated whether the incident may be linked to any other recent crimes in the area. The amount of cash taken from the register has not been publicly disclosed. The investigation is active and ongoing.
The A to Z Market is a convenience store on Orchard Street on New Haven's west side, a mixed-use corridor that includes both residential housing and small retail operations serving nearby residents. The store sits in a dense urban neighborhood and is representative of the type of independently operated business that has been targeted in similar armed robbery incidents across the city in recent years.
Armed robberies at small retail businesses represent a persistent challenge for law enforcement in New Haven and across Connecticut. Convenience stores and corner shops are particularly vulnerable due to the nature of cash-reliant operations, limited physical barriers between employees and customers, and staffing structures that typically involve one or two workers at any given time. These factors make such businesses attractive targets for those willing to use the threat of violence to obtain money quickly.
The New Haven Police Department has in recent years leaned on public tip campaigns and the release of surveillance images as key tools in solving crimes where suspects are not immediately identified at the scene. Law enforcement officials have noted that anonymous tips from community members have led to arrests in several notable cases. The release of the A to Z Market suspect image follows the same strategy and represents an appeal to residents who may have witnessed the robbery or recognized the individual from elsewhere in the neighborhood.
The investigation remains open. Police are asking residents who may have seen something in the area of Orchard Street around 12:40 p.m. on March 18 to come forward, even if they are unsure whether what they observed is relevant to the case. Both the detective tip line and the anonymous tip line remain available for anyone with information.
Got a tip? Reach out to us at tips@thequinnipiacpost.com.