Police: Michael T. Klopp Confesses to $41,000 in Scrap Metal Thefts

A Camden man has confessed to scrap metal thefts in June totaling more than $40,000 in damage to two township businesses, West Deptford police said Thursday.

Michael T. Klopp, 44, admitted to West Deptford police Tuesday he stole a total of seven air conditioning units—four from the roof of Greenfields Veterinary Associates on Parkville Station Road on June 18 and three from RJ Graphics on Crown Point Road between June 29 and July 1—and sold the units for scrap.

Haddonfield has had a rash of metal thefts for more than a year, including street signs, copper downspouts and air conditioners. There is no initial indication if Klopp is connected to thefts in Haddonfield.

Klopp, who has previous convictions for a 1992 burglary in Gloucester County and a 2004 arson in Burlington County, caused $32,000 in damage to Greenfields Veterinary Associates and $9,000 in damage to RJ Graphics, police said, and was charged with third-degree theft and third-degree criminal mischief.

In both cases, Klopp told police he took the stolen air conditioners to Camden Iron and Metal on Sixth Street in Camden, where he sold the aluminum in the units for scrap value.

Klopp is currently in the Camden County Jail on similar charges out of Deptford and Voorhees, which also include possessing burglary tools and improper riding of a bike. His bail is set at $35,000.