Crime & Safety
Barnegat Man Steals $700 Worth Of Copper From Gold Duster, Police Say
The copper has already been processed for recycling and cannot be returned to the business owner
At the Gold Duster, someone recently stole a lot of copper. And now, they can't get it back.
A 32-year-old Barnegat man allegedly disassembled and stole five copper downspouts and 20 copper downspout clamps - $700 value - from the business.
At 2:35 p.m. on Nov. 11, Patrolman Chris Steins arrested James Oblinger Jr. for theft in connection with the theft of copper from the Barnegat store.
Ptl. Steins had responded earlier in the day to The Gold Duster on East Bay Avenue for a report of copper. Upon arrival, Steins learned that an unknown subject had disassembled and stolen at least five copper downspouts.
Detective Michael Mitchell joined the investigation and discovered that Oblinger allegedlyhad sold the stolen copper at an area recycling facility.
Steins was able to locate Oblinger Jr and place him under arrest. Oblinger Jr was charged with theft and was lodged in the Ocean County Jail in default of $5,000 bail.
The copper has already been processed for recycling and cannot be returned to the business owner.
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