Wallingford Police Charge Man with Stealing $1 Million Worth of Vintage Aircraft Parts

Wallingford police have charged a New Haven man with allegedly stealing more than $1 million worth of vintage Pratt & Whitney jet engine parts from a property on North Colony Road this past November, according to NBC Connecticut.

NBC reports that Frank Westervelt, 45, was arrested at his home on March 6. One of the items he is accused of stealing was set to be donated to the Smithsonian Institute’s Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C., according to NBC.

Westervelt is also accused of taking gearboxes, jet engine stators, vanes, engine cases, combustion chambers and a forklift on Nov. 18, 2014.

Police believe that Westervelt sold the parts to a New Haven scrap dealer for a fraction of their value. Police so far have been able to recover about $500,000 worth of stolen aircraft parts, according to NBC.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the Wallingford Police Detective Division at 203-294-2845.

Read the full story at NBC Connecticut here.

Pictured: Frank Westervelt, 45, of New Haven/ Wallingford Police Department photo via NBC Connecticut