NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — A task force comprised of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies is still trying to untangle the attempt to rob the local branch of Achieve Financial CU that included all the hallmarks of a great action movie: a dramatic home invasion, kidnapping and explosives.
What it doesn't have, as yet, is a happy ending where all the loose ends are all tied up.
According to local press reports, the would-be robbers invaded Achieve FCU CFO Matthew Yussman's home, tying up him and his elderly mother, before strapping what appeared to be an explosive device to Yussman's chest. The suspects then forced 46-year-old Yussman to drive them to the $113 million CU's local branch.
According to New Britain police, someone at the credit union called police authorities on Monday to say that Yussman was "being forced to wear an explosive device as a way to obtain money from the credit union."
Police moved quickly to surround the neighborhood, closing down a local highway and dispatching a bomb squad. A number of schools in the area were also on lockdown during the episode.
The bomb was later determined to be a fake, and the suspects fled before any money was taken, and neither Yussman, his mother, nor any other Achieve employees or members were hurt during the incident.
Police are searching for the suspects, one described as "white and of medium build." Both spoke fluent English but had accents suggesting they did not hail from Connecticut, police said.
The New Britain State's Attorney's office has formed a task force comprising New Britain police and Bristol police to investigate the incident, with help from Connecticut State Police and the FBI.
In response to the incident, Achieve itself issued a tersely- worded statement that did not even mention Yussman by name.
"The Credit Union is pleased that our employee and his family member were not harmed," Achieve stated. "The Credit Union is fully cooperating with the police while they investigate the incident. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience this situation has caused our members and note that all of our credit union locations are back to full operation. We have no further comment."
This is not the first time a credit union executive has been kidnapped and held hostage during a robbery attempt. Indeed, there was a
