Arrest Made in Lunden Jewelry Store Theft

A Massachusetts fugitive wanted in connection with the theft of an $8,000 diamond ring from a West Hartford Center jeweler in November was arrested at Bradley International Airport early Saturday, said.

Robert M. Hatcher, 46, of Springfield is accused of stealing the ring Nov. 30 from the , 27 LaSalle Road. Hatcher was in the store for about five minutes before snatching the ring and running outside without paying, police said.

Hatcher was charged with second-degree larceny and is being held on a $60,000 bond. He was scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court March 10.

There was no weapon or a threat of force involved in the theft, police said. The theft was recorded by surveillance cameras and no one was injured.

Det. Robert Magao, who investigated the theft, said at the time, “We are going to look at the [method] and compare that to other things that have happened, not only here but around the state and even outside the state.”

That angle apparently paid off for investigators. Hatcher is wanted in Brattleboro, VT, for robbery and is a suspect in other investigations around New England, police said. He is also wanted by Massachusetts parole authorities for escape.

Hatcher was attempting to board an airplane for Florida when he was arrested by Magao at 5:40 a.m. with assistance from State Police.