Catalytic Converter Thieves Attack Fleet At Vernon Business

VERNON, CT — Catalytic converters were stolen off vehicles in the fleet of a prominent Vernon business over the Thanksgiving weekend, police said.

The vehicles belonged to Swiss Cleaners, which has a commercial plant at 35 Windsor Ave.

According to a police report, the thefts affected eight service vehicles — seven small Isuzu box trucks and a larger Chevrolet box truck. They were parked in the same stalls to the left of the main entrance since Nov. 24, when the business closed for the Thanksgiving holiday period until Monday, when it reopened, a report indicates.

The replacement value is $539 each, according to a police report.

A vehicle was blocking the view of one security camera and footage from a second is under review by the business, according to a police report.

With the right hand-held circular saw, a converter can be removed from a vehicle in less than a minute, a Vernon police spokesman said.

The thefts are similar to two at the First Student school bus lot over the past few months, police said.

About a week into the new school year — on Sept. 8 — converters were taken off eight school buses during the overnight period, according to police records.

Six months earlier — on March 12 — seven buses had converters sawed off them.

The value to replace a school bus converter is $1,500 each.

Police said the converters are brought to scrap yards and exchanged for cash.