More Cell Tower Batteries Stolen In Essex County (This Time, Bloomfield)

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield police say that four industrial batteries used for 911 calls disappeared from a local cell phone tower last month, just one of several such recent thefts in Essex County.

According to the Bloomfield Police Department, the alleged theft took place on Sept. 14 but wasn’t discovered and reported to authorities until Sept. 25.

Police say that four backup cell batteries used for 911 calls were stolen from a fenced-in and locked cell tower near the animal shelter on Bukowski Place. The batteries were kept inside several locked cabinets that were located around the tower.

The batteries were valued at $1,200, police said.

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Similar industrial batteries used at cell phone towers can weigh hundreds of pounds and fetch a high price on the resale market. Thefts of the heavy batteries are surprisingly common in Essex County. Recent thefts have been reported in Nutley, Belleville, Millburn, Newark and Cedar Grove.

• See related article: Essex County Cell Tower Battery Theft; $19K Of Hardware Stolen

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File Photo: Flickr Commons / Ervins Strauhmanis