Crime & Safety
Copper Theft Floods Maple Shade Neighborhood
Maple Shade Police are seeking the public's help in solving a string of copper thefts.
A copper thief flooded part of a West Germantown Avenue neighborhood Sunday after stripping an empty house, Maple Shade Police say.
Police responded to the 200 block of West Germantown Avenue at 9:51 a.m. after neighbors noticed their yards were flooding and discovered the copper piping had been cut out of an empty house nearby, which caused the crawlspace to flood and water poured out of the house onto adjacent properties, according to a report. The water department was called in to excavate in front of the house and shut the water off at the street.
A few hours later, police were called to yet another empty house in the 200 block of South Forklanding Road where the copper pipes had also been stolen.
Police provided a list of other similar crimes committed recently:
- 3/4/13 — unit block of West Park Avenue
- 3/4/13 — 300 block of West Mill Road
- 2/28/13 — 200 block of West Center Avenue
- 1/30/13 — 500 block of Sunset Avenue
- 1/13/13 — 600 block of North Forklanding Road
- 1/12/13 — 300 block of Ruth Avenue
- 12/27/12 — unit block of Anna Avenue
The Maple Shade Police Department urges residents to promptly call in suspicious activity to 856-234-8300 while it is occurring and an officer will be dispatched to investigate unknown persons present at any vacant house in town.
Property owners and landlords are encouraged to enlist the support of the neighbors adjacent to their empty properties by keeping neighbors informed of the status of the property so they can discern when something is wrong.
Anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious persons or vehicles at any of the abovementioned locations is encouraged to call 856-234-8300 and ask to be connected to the police supervisor on duty.
Information provided by Maple Shade Police
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