Closter Police: Three Busted in Alleged $150K Inside Job Copper Heist

Alvaro Baca (center) is accused of leading a conspiracy to steal over $150,000 worth of copper, along with another employee, Eliseo Adorno (right) and an outside truck driver, Dimitris Hatsis (left). | Closter Police Photo

This section is based on data provided to the Northern Valley Press by neighborhood police departments. Due to pending court appearances and other variations, the following information shall be read in “press time” context.

CLOSTER, N.J.—After a three month long embezzlement investigation conducted by the Closter Police Detective Bureau, three suspects were charged with theft and conspiracy to commit theft. 

On Saturday, Feb. 23, a manager from Elgen / Capital Hardware Inc. contacted the Closter Police to report large quantities of copper missing from the business. The manager stated that over $150,000 worth of copper was fraudulently ordered to the company and removed from the premises without detection. 

An ex-employee, Alvaro Baca, who worked as shipping manager was able to manipulate the computer system to order large amounts of copper and intercept them upon arriving at the business.

After concealing the copper in the warehouse Baca conspired with another employee, Eliseo Adorno and an outside truck driver, Dimitris Hatsis, to remove the copper and sell it in Elizabeth and Linden.

  Baca of Roselle, Dimitris M. Hatsis of Norwalk, Conn., and Eliseo Adorno of Nyack, N.Y. were placed on a Closter Complaint Summons for theft of movable property, and conspiracy to commit theft, with first appearances scheduled in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.

 These charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.