The 43-year-old was arrested in South River and is being held on $30,000 bail in Middlesex County jail.
SOUTH RIVER -- A Princeton man was arrested over the weekend for allegedly stealing pieces of copper piping from a borough residence.
At around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, a police officer spotted Derek Dunfee, 43, walking around an abandoned property near Causeway Street and Browns Lane. When Dunfee saw additional officers approach, he dropped two pieces of copper piping and ran, according to a statement from the South River Police Department.
According to police, Dunfee admitted to removing the copper from a residence on Little Martin Avenue and to also removing copper in the past to sell for cigarettes.
He was charged with burglary and theft by unlawful taking and was held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility on $30,000 bail.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.