Man Accused Of Stealing Metals, Fire Connectors In Stamford: PD

STAMFORD, CT —Stamford police said a 34-year-old man is suspected in the thefts of metal piping and critical fire department connectors attached to buildings throughout the city, and the department is urging the public to take inventory of these types of items which are often found in parking garages, building stairways and sprinkler systems.

Johnathan Williamson, a Stamford resident, was arrested on Aug. 1 and charged with first-degree larceny and given a court-set bond of $150,000, Assistant Stamford Police Chief Richard Conklin said.

The following day, police levied additional larceny and burglary charges, and a $50,0000 bond.

Conklin said Williamson was operating a white U-Haul van when he was arrested, which he was using to transport "a sizable amount" of copper pipe, fire department connector (FDC) caps and backflow irrigation devices to a local Stamford scrapyard where he would sell items for the metal value.

"We do believe, not only in our jurisdiction but in surrounding jurisdictions, both in Fairfield County and in Westchester, that Williamson has been active," Conklin said. "We're just asking people who might not access their roofs, their stairways, to take a look to make sure they're not missing these items that may have been stolen."

So far, about 15 locations around Stamford have been impacted by thefts, Conklin said, and the number is growing.

"There are a lot of victims out there," Conklin said. "We're working hand-in-hand with the Stamford Fire Department and their fire marshal's office and they're doing a lot of inspections of these locations, and they're discovering more and more victims of these thefts."

Conklin said Williamson was identified as a suspect after investigators began working with other jurisdictions and "comparing notes."

"We do anticipate additional charges being lodged against him from other jurisdictions, and perhaps ourselves also as we continue investigating him," Conklin added.

"This represents an extreme problem to first responders… In an emergency type of situation where the fire department is responding to a blaze or an incident, and they're anticipating these items being intact and they're not there, that could create certain issues."

Anyone who has more information or who feels they've been a victim of similar thefts can contact the Stamford Police Department at 203-977-4444.