Wilton Police Investigate Stolen Catalytic Converters And A DUI

WILTON, CT — Stolen catalytic converters and a DUI were among the incidents investigated by the Wilton Police Department last week.

Earthscapes Landscape Management at 743 Danbury Road called the police around 7:20 a.m. on May 9, complaining of stolen catalytic converters. Officers discovered that two catalytic converters had been stolen from a 2022 Isuzu commercial truck while the truck was parked in a lot.

Catalytic converters, found in a vehicle's exhaust system, contain platinum, palladium and rhodium. The worth of these metals on the scrap market has risen sharply in the past few years, and the WPD estimated the value of the stolen components to be approximately $5,000.

Investigators have determined the theft occurred between around 4 p.m. on May 6 and 7:00 in the morning on May 9.

The Wilton Police Department is urging anyone with more information to contact Officer Gelineau at 203-834-6260, and reference case #22-4579.

On May 9, Kelly Velez, 29, of Dupont Place in Bridgeport, turned herself in at Wilton Police Headquarters on a warrant for second-degree failure to appear. Velez had skipped out on an earlier Stamford Court appearance stemming from motor vehicle charges, according to police. She was then rescheduled to appear in court on May 20, after paying 10 percent of the $2,500 bond.

Shortly after noon on May 14, police responded to a complaint about a man parked at 379 Danbury Road. Officers found William Rafter, 54, of Old Danbury Road in Wilton, whom they said was under the influence of alcohol, and took him into custody.

Raftery refused a breath test, and was charged with DUI. He was released after posting 10 percent of his $250 bond and is scheduled to appear at Stamford Superior Court on May 26.