Sussex County man accused of stealing more than $1,700 worth of lights from construction site

FRANKLIN BOROUGH, NJ (Sussex County) – A Sussex County man has been charged after he allegedly stole more than $1,700 worth of recessed downlights from a Franklin Borough construction site, according to Franklin Borough police.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, at around 3:00 p.m., officers responded to a construction site in Franklin Borough for a reported theft of recessed downlights, which are small direct lighting units positioned within a ceiling. The units were not installed and in the manufacturers boxes, police said.

Through a police investigation, it was determined that Aaron Hawkins, 34, of Hamburg had allegedly entered the construction site on Saturday afternoon and removed several boxes of the recessed lighting valued at over $1,700.00, police said.

Hawkins was arrested on Sept. 25 in Franklin Borough and charged with theft, police said.

Hawkins also had an outstanding Jefferson Township warrant and was released on his own recognizance, police said.

Hawkins was lodged in the Keogh Dwyer Correctional Facility on the Franklin Borough charge pending his first court appearance.

Investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may follow, police said.