Police: Man caught stealing from South Jersey cell phone tower
Louis Lucas, 45, was caught stealing copper wire and batteries from a cell phone tower in Gloucester Township, N.J., police said.
A man was arrested Saturday morning after a police officer caught him stealing batteries and wire from a cell phone tower in Gloucester Township, N.J. police said.
The officer, assigned to an extra patrol of area cell towers, saw a suspicious vehicle backed against a tower on Williamstown Road about 9:15 a.m., according to a news release from the Gloucester Township Police Department.
As the officer exited his car, he saw a man inside the site's fenced-in area, taking apart an electrical box and removing equipment, police said.
Though the man, identified as Louis Lucas, 45, claimed to be a subcontractor for a company that performs maintenance on cellular towers, an investigation revealed he hadn't worked with the firm for some time, police said.
Officers also discovered large cellular batteries and copper wire inside Lucas' vehicle, which was towed to police headquarters, according to investigators.
Lucas, of Clarksboro, was arrested and processed on charges of burglary, criminal attempted theft, criminal mischief, and possession of burglary tools.
He remained imprisoned Sunday in the Camden County Jail, where he was being held in default of bail.