Man Needed 300 Sutures After Milford Catalytic Converter Thief Attack

MILFORD, CT — A Milford man has a long recovery ahead after he was brutally attacked by a suspected catalytic converter thief.

Luke O'Brien heard a grinding noise around 2 a.m. outside his home and went to investigate, according to News 12. He ran toward the grinding noise, but was blindsided by another person who ran a grinding wheel across his face. He was cut deeply from his ear to his lip, and was also cut on his shoulder, knees and foot when the tool fell.

O'Brien was rushed to Milford Hospital and then to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he received 300 sutures to close the wound, according to a GoFundMe started to help with medical expenses.

O'Brien will be out of work for at least eight weeks and will also have to go to rehab for his injuries.

Police continue to investigate the attack and released a photo of a silver sedan that is suspected to be the getaway vehicle. Police remind residents to not confront criminal suspects and to call 911 and relay as much information as possible while staying in a safe and concealed space.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police at 203-783-4727.

Catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise since 2020. New state laws go into effect in June that aim to make it harder to sell stolen converters to scrap yards.