UConn professor Alexandru D. Asandei arrested

A 43-year-old University of Connecticut professor was arrested on Thursday after he told a jewelry store employee he was there to rob the store.

According to the arrest report, UCONN associate professor Alexandru D. Asandei and a female companion entered Lux Bond and Green at Evergreen Walk in South Windsor shortly before 7:00 p.m. Thursday and the woman began looking at merchandise.

A sales person approached the couple and asked if they needed assistance and Asandei allegedly said “I am here to rob the store.”

The professor and his friend left the store and the employee called 911 after getting Asandei’s license plate number.

An-all-points bulletin was issued for the professor’s vehicle and Manchester police spotted the car in the parking lot of the Buckland Hills Mall around 7:30 p.m.

Asandei and his friend were arrested at the Barnes and Noble store inside the mall.

Colleagues of the professor say it is likely that he made the statement in jest.

Reports say the same jewelry store had recently been robbed.