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Authorities: Man Tried To Steal Items From Gloucester Township Cell Phone Tower

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — A southern New Jersey man faces several charges after he allegedly tried to steal batteries and wire from a cell phone tower.

Gloucester Township police say an officer on patrol Saturday morning saw a suspicious vehicle backed against a tower. They say he soon saw 45-year-old Louis Lucas, of Clarksboro, inside the site's fenced-in area, taking apart an electrical box and removing equipment.

Lucas allegedly claimed he was a subcontractor for a company that performs maintenance on cell towers. But authorities determined Lucas hasn't worked with the firm for some time.

Authorities say they also found large cellular batteries and copper wire inside his vehicle.

Lucas was charged with burglary, criminal attempted theft, criminal mischief, and possession of burglary tools. It wasn't known Sunday if he's retained an attorney.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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