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“Twice in the past week someone entered the construction zone and stole copper and construction material,” Detective Sgt. Michael Colaneri Jr. told CLIFFVIEW PILOT this afternoon.
Patrols were advised to keep an eye out, and around 2:20 a.m. yesterday Officer Daniel Kroncke was doing routine security checks when he noticed a red Chevy Blazer that wasn’t there during an earlier pass, Colaneri said.
Next to the vehicle he found a tool box and copper piping, the sergeant said.
Then he found 39-year-old Michael C. Prisco.
Prisco had been released by NJ Transit authorities last week after Denville police stopped him for ignoring a traffic signal and found copper wire stolen from the local NJT substation in his truck.
With Prisco’s consent, Kroncke searched the truck at the Route 17 site and found another toolbox, Colaneri said.
Backup Officer Sean Woodbridge arrived, and they arrested Prisco, who the sergeant said was also carrying cocaine and heroin.
Prisco was released on $20,000 bail pending a court hearing on charges of burglary, theft, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
MUGSHOT: Courtesy HASBROUCK HEIGHTS PD
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