$25K to $30K Worth of Copper Stolen From Bernardsville Pool

Bernardsville police are still looking into — and waiting for a final tally of the value of stolen metal — after the discovery that someone had entered the Bernardsville pool sometime between February and early March and made off with pipes and other equipment made of copper.

Copper pipes were removed from electrical connectors at the pool, and cut out of the bathrooms of the closed facility, said Bernardsville Patrol Officer Brian Kelly. A pump with copper pieces also was removed, he said.

Police have no idea if the thieves hit the facility more than once, but the facility apparently was burglarized some time between Feb. 4 and March 4, Kelly said.

It appears the pool property was entered through a hole cut in the fence, most likely at night, he said. The pool is not directly near any homes, although it is across the driveway from the off Seney Drive.

The theft and damage was discovered when members of the borough recreation committee entered to do some work before the swim season is due to start on Memorial Day weekend, Kelly said.

"Obviously, copper is worth a lot of money," he said. He said the removed materials are likely worth about $25,000 to $30,000, but police haven't received a final estimate on the missing materials.

The borough is self-insured, and Kelly said he isn't sure how the cost of replacing the lost equipment will be made up.

Kelly said anyone who may have seen anything at the pool that may lead police to discover the culprit is asked to call the borough police headquarters at 908-766-0037.