COURT HOUSE — It’s enough to make a tin man shiver in his shoes.
Middle Township Police Department wishes to alert the public to incidents occurring within the township and most likely to all surrounding areas involving the thefts of metal products.
Some of the metal can be described as scrap type metal, but others are normal household items.
Since April of this year, Middle Township Police Department has handled over 25 complaints reporting incidents of thefts of metals, we are also aware that many more incidents have gone unreported.
The most recent being reported on this date, July 14 involving suspects cutting a fence and entering onto a commercial property in Rio Grande and removing scrap metals.
Other reported incidents range from scrap discarded metals removed from properties, to aluminum ladders, bicycles, lawnmowers, bath tubs, air conditioners, freezers, metal poles from a trampoline, railroad ties, and metal lawn furniture.
Most of the thefts occur at night, when suspects enter onto properties and remove items.
Lately, suspects have been using forced entry, cutting fences, or entering garages or crawl spaces of properties to steal metal products.
Some incidents have occurred during daylights hours, an example of a daytime theft occurred when a property owner was mowing their lawn, paused to use the telephone, then returning to find the lawn mower missing.
Additional items reported recently included several large metal storm drain grates, taken out of the ground. Some of those items can weigh several hundred pounds, and the theft can create a serious safety hazard.
Middle Township police have arrested at least four individuals on different occasions charging them with theft of metals.
Police are also working with area scrap dealers, advising them of thefts, and in some cases recovering stolen property.
Police believe that the increased value in metal products as scrap has caused the increases in reported thefts.
Police want to recommend that the public report any suspicious activity, and secure any metal products on your property.
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