Police: Catalytic converter thief attacked witness

MILFORD — Police said they are working to identify a suspect in a brazen daylight catalytic converter theft from a vehicle parked at the Target lot on Boston Post Road Tuesday evening.

Police said that a witness photographed a man cutting the device off a car, but when the thief spotted the man photographing him, he smashed the witness's car window and cut him with a saw.

Around 7:30 p.m., Milford police said the witness spotted a man entering the lot in a white Toyota Solara before getting out of the car with a electric reciprocating saw and walking toward another vehicle.

The man then cut a catalytic converter off the vehicle, according to police.

“The male then saw the witness taking pictures of him,” police said in a statement. “The male then approached the witness's vehicle, smashed out the driver's side window, yelled and swung the Sawzall around causing injury to the witness's arm.”

Police said the thief taunted the witness to get out of their car before leaving in the Toyota. Police said the car had “misuse” Connecticut plates.

Milford police said witnesses shouldn't approach people in the midst of a catalytic converter theft, but should take down a description of the suspect's vehicle, a description of the suspect and license plate number.

“Thieves use a loud saw to remove the converter. If you see someone under a car and hear a loud saw, call police immediately,” police said.

Milford police said thieves also often work in teams, with one person cutting the devices off cars while another drives.

Police also recommended parking in well-lit areas, etching your license plate number in your catalytic converters, or asking a mechanic to install a theft deterrent.