West Haven Motor Vehicle Theft Falls 31%, Credits License Plate Readers
Mayor Dorinda Borer and Police Chief Joseph Perno credited a coordinated strategy involving camera technology, increased patrols, and community outreach for the decline.
PublishedMarch 30, 2026
City officials said the license plate-reading cameras have played a central role in identifying stolen vehicles and enabling police
West Haven Reports 31% Drop in Motor Vehicle Theft, Credits Cameras and Community Outreach
West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer and Police Chief Joseph S. Perno announced on March 19, 2026, that motor vehicle theft in the city declined 31 percent compared to the same period one year earlier. The reduction spans multiple categories, including stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, and vehicle tampering.
The announcement credited three key strategies: the deployment of license plate-reading cameras, increased street patrols, and a public awareness campaign designed to encourage residents to report suspicious activity quickly.
"This 31% reduction is the result of consistent, data-driven policing and community engagement," Mayor Borer said in a statement.
How West Haven Achieved the Decline
City officials said the license plate-reading cameras — deployed across West Haven — have played a central role in identifying stolen vehicles and enabling police to intercept them before additional crimes occur. The technology logs plate numbers as vehicles pass and flags matches against stolen vehicle databases in real time.
Police Chief Perno said the department is sustaining the approach with continued patrols in high-risk areas, collaboration with regional and state law enforcement partners, and targeted enforcement against repeat offenders.
West Haven did not release detailed crime data showing exactly how many thefts occurred in each category or the time period used to calculate the 31 percent decline.
March 13 Arrest: Stolen SUV, Catalytic Converter Theft Attempt
Days before the announcement, West Haven police responded to an incident that illustrated the ongoing challenge posed by organized theft rings. On March 13, officers pursued a stolen Dodge Durango that had been linked to a catalytic converter theft attempt. The pursuit ended in a crash, and two men from New York were arrested.
Catalytic converter theft has surged across Connecticut and the region in recent years, driven by the high resale value of the precious metals — including platinum and rhodium — used in the devices. West Haven police have not released the names or charges filed against the two men arrested in the March 13 incident.
Regional and State Context
Motor vehicle theft has been a persistent problem across Connecticut, prompting law enforcement agencies to form regional task forces and share intelligence on stolen vehicles. Interstate theft rings, like the one suspected in the March 13 West Haven incident, frequently cross state lines before law enforcement can respond.
West Haven's reported 31 percent reduction would be among the more significant drops reported by a Connecticut municipality in recent years if sustained. The city did not indicate whether the improvement puts it above or below the state average for motor vehicle theft rates.
