Connecticut Man Charged With Stealing Catalytic Converters

Sheriff Kevin J. McConville reports the arrest of a 19-year-old Bridgeport, Connecticut, man for 2 counts of Grand Larceny 4th, Auto Stripping 2nd, Criminal Mischief 2nd, and Criminal Mischief 3rd, all Felonies. On February 7th the Sheriff's Department received a complaint from a Town of Southeast business located on Tilly Foster Rd. who reported a catalytic converter stolen overnight from a vehicle parked in their lot. An investigation and canvass of the area by Sheriff's Investigators determined another converter was stolen from a separate vehicle at a nearby business and had yet to be discovered by the owner.

Investigators were assisted by surveillance cameras showing the thefts had occurred at 8:30 pm on February 6th. Further investigation determined the suspects, and their vehicle were involved in another crime handled by New York State Police Brewster later the same night of the 6th. With assistance from Investigators of the New York State Police, Sheriff's Investigators identified the suspect who cut the converters off both vehicles with a battery-powered circular saw. The suspect was located and interviewed by Sheriff's Investigators at the Westchester Medical Center where he was being treated for an injury unrelated to the converter thefts and admitted to committing the thefts.

On March 16th, Sheriff's Investigators arrested the suspect at the Town of Patterson Court when he appeared at the court for a prescheduled court date for unrelated charges. He was arraigned by Judge Caruso and released without bail and is due to appear on the charges in the Town of Southeast Court on April 7th. Sheriff's Investigators assisted Detectives with the Town of Carmel Police who were handling similar incidents involving the same suspects. The investigation is ongoing, and the identities of additional suspects and arrests are pending.