MANCHESTER, Conn. — 16 catalytic converters were stolen overnight from U-Haul vehicles on Oakland Street in Manchester.
Manchester police said six cargo vans, four pickup trucks, and six box trucks were damaged.
Officers gathered evidence from the scene and are working with the business to gain more information on what happened. Based on the initial investigation and review of surveillance footage, police believe three suspects were involved in the theft.
Chris Chaffin went Saturday morning to get a trailer pickup. While there, the discoveries started.
"The manager kind of shook his head. A voice came over and said, 'We got a big problem,'" the Coventry resident said. "The walkie-talkie opened up again, and they’re like, 'We’ve got a much bigger problem.'"
He said it didn't impact the equipment he needed but could tell it caused somewhat of a disruption for others.
"There were definitely people this morning standing around in the parking lot just kind of waiting," he said.
People dropping off trucks Saturday told FOX61 they were shocked to hear what happened and didn't notice any notable disturbances Saturday morning. U-Haul brought in other trucks from nearby locations.
These thefts have been happening across the state and the country. A man was arrested in August for his role in multiple catalytic converter thefts over a five-month span in Manchester. Another man turned himself into police in March for stealing the part from dozens of cars at Lynch Toyota.
Chaffin said it's unfortunate this continues to happen.
"It’s too bad that some metals and so forth become so valuable that it’s worth getting a team of people together to go steal that stuff. That’s a shame," he said.
Police ask that if you have any information on this theft, you contact Officer Thomas Van Langan at (860) 645-5500.
Tony Black is a multi-media journalist at FOX61 News. He can be reached at tblack@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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