2 Charged In Attempted Catalytic Converter Thefts: Norwalk Police

NORWALK, CT — Officers investigating a potential catalytic converter theft early Wednesday morning found 13 more catalytic converters in the suspects' car, Norwalk police said.

Officers responded to the Water Street area at around 2:08 a.m. Wednesday after a witness heard a "grinding noise" coming from a nearby parking lot.

The witness saw one man keeping watch while another was underneath a vehicle using what the witness thought was a reciprocating saw, Norwalk police said.

According to witness accounts, the two men removed a catalytic converter from one vehicle and were interrupted while trying to take a second, police said.

The witness told police that the men got into a black BMW, and when an officer entered the parking lot, that BMW accelerated and hit the police car, officers said.

The BMW's drivers continued trying to flee, but eventually an officer broke its heavily-tinted driver side window with a baton. Police found two people in the car, and at that point they yielded to officers' commands, police said.

When officers searched the car, they found 13 catalytic converters that "appeared to have been recently cut from vehicles," police said.

Norwalk police arrested Justin Serrano, 30, and Jose Lopez, 29, both of New Britain. Both were charged with third-degree larceny, eight counts of fifth-degree larceny, first-degree criminal mischief, and interfering/resisting.

Serrano was also charged with third-degree criminal trespassing, driving with a suspended license, driving without insurance, driving without registration, failure to grant right-of-way and misuse of plates; while Lopez also faces a false statement charge.

Both of their bonds were set at $50,000 and they're both scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on March 29.

An investigation into the case is ongoing.