Police: Port Authority busts Union City man stealing 330 pounds of copper wire

The Port Authority police, with the aid of the Port Authority Inspector General’s Office, busted a Union City man stealing 330 pounds of copper wire inside a PATH rail yard in Jersey City, officials said. 

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

Jose Pujols-Quintas, 52, of Union City, was charged with burglary and theft by unlawful taking last night after he was caught with 330 pounds of copper wire – valued at $990 – inside his black 2007 Ford Explorer by a PATH employee, Port Authority police spokesman Joe Pentangelo.

At about 10 p.m. last night, Pujols-Quintas was seen inside 200 Academy Street in Jersey City by a PATH employee who noticed the suspect walking inside the restricted area of the PATH rail yard, officials said.

The employee then noticed the suspect seated inside a black 2007 Ford Explorer with the vehicle’s rear cargo door open near a pile of copper wire and the employee then informed the suspect that neither he, nor his auto, were authorized to be in the area, authorities said.

Pujols-Quintas claimed he was working in the area putting posters on PATH trains and produced an employee pass, police said.

Authorities noted that the vehicle contained posters and 330 pounds of copper wire in plain view and the copper cables were confirmed to be the same wires that had been placed on a nearby platform earlier.