DNA Evidence Leads to Arrest In Copper Thefts

STONE HARBOR – The arrest of a Villas resident was made July 3 in connection with thefts of and damage to copper pipes from three residences in November 2013. Loss to owners was over $21,000, and is the latest action in a continuing investigation, according to Stone Harbor police.
Police reported Stephen Schofield, 44, was arrested by Cape May County Sheriff’s Department officers as he arrived in Superior Court on an unrelated matter. He was charged with burglary, criminal mischief and theft in connection with the copper thefts and damage.
Police reported that on Nov. 28, 2013, they began a series of criminal investigations into numerous burglary, criminal mischief and theft complaints. Those complaints involved cutting and removal of copper piping from air conditioning units and/or plumbing pipes from beneath homes.
Many of the damaged air conditioning units also had condensers removed. The actions resulted in substantial damage to many of the properties. The cost to homeowners to either repair or replace the damage was over $21,000, police reported in a July 3 release.
Detective David Hartzell began to gather evidence at the scenes of the crimes. He sent that evidence to N.J. State Police Forensic Laboratory for analysis in December 2013 because DNA was left at the scene.
Through investigative leads, Stone Harbor Police Department developed Schofield as a suspect in May.
The State Police lab sent a report to the local department which was received June 27. That report identified Schofield as a match for the DNA collected at the crime scenes by Hartzell.
The department applied for arrest warrants June 30. Those were approved by Municipal Court Judge John Fowler for Schofield.
After Schofield’s arrest in court, his bail was set at $45,000 with no 10 percent. He was remanded to Cape May County Correctional Center.
There are some other victims of those alleged copper thefts, thus the investigation continues under the auspices of the Detective Division of Stone Harbor Police. Other charges are pending.
Police request that anyone with information about those crimes contact the Detective Division at 368-2111. They also urge homeowners to report any suspicious activity to police at the same number.
The matter is being reviewed by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.