MONTGOMERY: ‘Scrappers’ take copper from site

By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
   MONTGOMERY — More than 8,000 pounds of copper wire worth about $68,000 was stolen from a construction site in the Princeton area sometime between 3:30 p.m. on March 9 and 6:30 a.m. on March 11, according to police.
   The alleged theft took place on the property behind the Ford dealership on Route 206, where a PSE&G substation is being constructed. Police said a subcontractor reported 8½ spools of copper wire, weighing about 1,000 pounds each, were missing when he arrived on the site on the morning of March 11.
   PSE&G spokeswoman Annette Hicks confirmed the new substation was theirs.
   Lt. Guy Fillebrown said he thought the alleged “scrappers” might have used a forklift at the construction site to help them remove the copper wire.
   ”Everyone has issues with low-level scrappers going into abandoned houses and taking copper piping and wiring and it’s not uncommon for construction sites to be targeted,” said Lt. Fillebrown. “However, this was a little more well organized than the average person.”
   Ms. Hicks confirmed that PSE&G is sometimes a victim to these types of thefts during construction projects.
   ”I wouldn’t say it happens a lot, but there are occasions that it does happen,” she added.
   Lt. Fillebrown thought there was a possibility these particular scrappers might take the copper to scrap yards out of state to swap it for cash. He said police usually catch scrappers by tracing them back to their designated scrap yards that require identification to complete the metal-for-cash deal.
   If the suspects are caught, Lt. Fillebrown said they could face second or third degree theft charges and possible jail time due to the substantial amount of copper that was taken.
   To date, he said there are no leads on the suspects and that the case is still under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the theft is asked to contact the Montgomery Police Department at 908-874-3333.