Thieves Steal Copper from Abandoned Parsippany Home

Copper was stolen from an abandoned Parsippany residence during the overnight hours Monday.

This is the latest in a series of recent burglaries in the area. Also, copper was recently stolen from cell towers in the township. 

Parsippany Police are investigating the burglary at an abandoned home on River Drive in Lake Hiawatha sometime between Monday at 11 p.m. and Tuesday at 6:40 a.m., police said.

The township bought the home after it was damaged by Superstorm Sandy and the home is now secured by Parsippany’s Car 69 Rescue and Recovery Unit, police said.

A woman told officers Ross Cooper and William Stone that she noticed the usually closed back door of the abandoned home was open and a refrigerator that can “usually be seen through the windows was no longer there," according to a release from Officer Remo D’Alessandro, community relations officer.

Cooper and Stone saw forced entry was made through the back door and found missing copper from “dangling electrical wires inside the gutted home, police said. The shed in the backyard also appeared to be opened and disturbed," according to the release.

Nearby residents told officers they saw a "suspicious white van" with at least two men inside was seen several times in the area.

Anyone with information regarding the incident or may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area should call at 973-263-4311 or email Crime_Tips@parpolice.com.