3 Charged For Stealing Copper Piping From PSE&G Buildings In Edison

EDISON, NJ – Three Paterson men were arrested and charged for stealing thousands of dollars worth of copper piping from multiple PSE&G buildings in Edison, Police Chief Thomas Bryan said.

The arrests follow an investigation by the department's Criminal Investigation Bureau after PSE&G Corporate Security reported the ongoing thefts.

On the evening of March 21, PSE&G employees alerted detectives to a rental van found parked in the woods near one of the PSE&G properties. Detectives quickly established surveillance in the area, leading to a traffic stop on the van as it left the property, police said.

Officers recovered the stolen copper and arrested three men, police said.

The men have been charged as follows:

• Gerson D. Lopez, 35, of Paterson, NJ charged with burglary, criminal mischief, and theft.
• Elio E. Ramos Madera, 25, of Paterson, NJ, charged with burglary, criminal mischief, and theft.
• Joh J. Almonte-Jorge, 25, of Paterson, NJ, charged with burglary, criminal mischief, Theft, and possession of burglary tools.

All three are currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility pending further legal proceedings.

"We are deeply thankful to PSE&G Corporate Security for their prompt reporting, which was crucial in ensuring a swift and successful resolution to this case. I also want to commend the tireless efforts of our Criminal Investigations Bureau, whose diligent work led to the recovery of the stolen property and the arrest of the suspects," Bryan said in a statement.

Mayor Sam Joshi praised the excellent work of the Edison Police Department, saying, "The Edison Police Department continues to demonstrate unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our community. I want to personally thank Chief Bryan and his team for their hard work and professionalism in swiftly apprehending these individuals and ensuring justice is served."

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information related to this case is asked to contact Detective Joseph Bench of the department’s Burglary Unit at (732) 248-7540.

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