COLD SPRING — On Jan. 2, nearly two months after a theft of scrap metal was reported, Lower Township detectives cracked the case and a Middle Township resident surrendered, and was charged with burglary and theft.
According to police, on Nov. 9, Cape May Auto on Shunpike Road had reported a burglary of the garage and removal of about 40 catalytic converters from the garage area.
A search of the area showed entry was made onto the property through a fence that had been cut with a bolt-type cutter.
Tire tracks located on scene indicated that a vehicle had been used to take away the items once they had been removed from the building and carried out of the fenced-in compound area.
Various metal dealers throughout South Jersey were contacted without results on selling of the allegedly stolen items. Those items can be worth up to $70 each, depending on type and style of converter used.
On Jan. 2, detectives received a tip about a possible suspect in the case. A follow-up investigation of the information helped them local Daniel Stalford, 20, of the 3000 block, Route 9 South in Rio Grande.
Police discovered that Stalford had removed the items and then transported them to Ray’s Salvage in Dennis Township where they were sold for $275 for 19 of the converters.
Those converters contact various precious metals that are retrieved from the units and melted down.
Stalford turned himself into Lower Township police. He was processed and charged with burglary and theft. He was released on a summons.
Patrolman Doug Whitten, Detective Chris Lambert and Detective First Class Mel Hedum investigated the case.
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