Teen Charged With Street Sign Thefts; Second Youth Sought
Teen Charged With Street Sign Thefts; Second Youth Sought
By Andrew Gorosko
Police have charged a local teenager with third degree larceny in connection with several dozen recent street-name sign thefts.
On August 12, after learning that police held a warrant for his arrest, Mark Walrath, 18, of 11 New Lebbon Road turned himself in and was charged with the felony, according to Detective Jason Frank, who investigated the case for police.
The warrant for Walrathâs arrest received court approval on August 7. Police released Walrath on a $250 bond for an August 21 arraignment in Danbury Superior Court.
In an unusual move, although he has not yet been arrested, police released the name of another youth wanted in connection with the 46 street-name sign thefts.
That person is John âJackâ Rafter, III, 18, who formerly lived at 133 Housatonic Drive in the Shady Rest section.
On July 15, the court issued an arrest warrant for Rafter on a charge of third degree larceny. But before police were able to serve that warrant against Rafter, he had moved with his family to Irvine, Calif., police said.
Police are still attempting to serve that warrant against Rafter, but Connecticut does not have an extradition treaty with California for crimes such as third degree larceny. In more serious criminal cases, police would start extradition proceedings with other states.
The stolen signs are being held as evidence in the case by police until the court approves their release. The cost to replace the green-and-white signs is estimated at $2,774.
On July 2, acting on details provided by an informant, police seized the 46 street-name signs that were being kept at Rafterâs Housatonic Drive residence.
The signs had been stolen from places all across town, including Mt Pleasant Road, Chimney Swift Drive, Autumn Ridge Road, Chipmunk Trail, Poverty Hollow Road, Bentagrass Lane, High Rock Road, and Cedar Hill Road, among many others.
Because police must hold the stolen signs as evidence for an unspecified period, the town is expected to use other signs as replacements for the stolen signs. The signs are typically posted at street intersections.
Police have said the theft of street-name signs poses a threat to local public safety.
With street-name signs missing, it may not be apparent to police, fire, and ambulance staffers where certain streets are located when they are responding to emergency calls, which could mean that time is lost in arriving at emergencies, according to police. The town has more than 500 streets.