Man Charged With Stealing Catalytic Converters In Southington: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A New Britain man has turned himself in to Southington police to answer to charges he stole catalytic converters from a local metal shop back in 2022.

According to the Southington Police Department Wednesday, Jagdiel Velasquez, 30, of North Street, New Britain, was charged Monday with second-degree criminal mischief; fifth-degree larceny; and tampering with a motor vehicle.

Police said he was released on a $25,000 bond and will appear in New Britain Superior Court May 16.

The charges stem from an incident back on June 23, 2022, police said.

That's when, at about 4 a.m., officers were called to Yarde Metals, 45 Newell St., Southington, for a report of a catalytic converter theft.

Catalytic converters are part of a motor vehicle's exhaust system that have precious metals inside and they're often stolen by thieves looking to sell the metal for scrap.

Police said, at the time, they were able to locate evidence and get DNA samples linking Velasquez to the incident, which resulted in the theft of $963 worth of metal.

Southington police were able to identify Velasquez through other police agencies, who "confirmed him as a known catalytic converter thief, the result of similar arrests," the SPD said.

In a joint investigation with neighboring agencies, SPD detectives located a stolen vehicle, an Acura TL sedan, believed to be the vehicle used in the theft, according to an SPD release.

In December 2022, a search warrant was signed for Velasquez’s DNA, confirming items seized from the scene were handled by Velasquez, resulting in an arrest warrant last month, police said.

The warrant results from the damage to the vehicle and theft of the catalytic converter, according to police.

Velasquez turned himself in to Southington police headquarters on Monday, police said.