Police investigate theft of copper from towers

SOUTHBRUNSWICK- Twenty police departments met on Monday at the township's police department to discuss the recent trend of copper being stolen from cell towers in the township and surrounding areas.

"We realized this was not isolated to South Brunswick, so I directed the Criminal Investigations Division to form a statewide approach," Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said in a press release. "It is not clear if these thefts are a result of one group or several individuals working in conjunction."

Thirty investigators, representing four counties, were in attendance, as well as Verizon representatives.

The group determined that there were 25 incidents of copper brass bars stolen in the past four months. It cost about $5,000 to reinstall the bars at each site,making the total damage at about $125,000.Most of the copper bars were stolen from central New Jersey.

Also, it was found that scrapmetal companies are not regulated by state law and they are not required to document who sells them the copper bars.

The police ask that anyone who lives near a cell tower site and sees suspicious activity to call them immediately.

- ChrisMurino