What’s That White Stuff? Part II

It has happened again.

In 2010 we blogged about a burglar in South Carolina, where snowfall is not very common, being captured because authorities simply followed his footprints in the snow.

Here in New Jersey, where the season’s first snowstorm has already occurred, earlier this week police arrived at a home after the resident reported that someone had just tried to break into the house by smashing a rear door window.

Officers were told the man had knocked on the front door of the home, and when no one answered, he went to the rear. But the crook fled when the homeowner yelled, according to police.

The officers followed footprints in the freshly fallen snow and found the 26-year-old genius a short distance away, in possession of a hammer.

Challenging Circumstances

Berkeley Township, New Jersey, encompasses some of the areas hardest-hit by Hurricane Sandy, including both oceanfront and inland areas devastated by the storm. Dealing with a natural disaster of this scope is a challenge for any police agency.

In this photograph, Berkeley Township Police Chief Karin DiMichele uses the p.a. system in a police vehicle to address residents last week, residents who are gathered to obtain passes to go to their property to inspect damage and collect possessions. Yes, as of this writing the portions of Berkeley Township that are on the Island Beach barrier island remain off-limits to residents and property owners, and access is being carefully controlled. There is no electric service, the natural gas service has been turned off pending repairs to damaged gas mains, and roads are damaged and/or blocked by debris.

We know – we have family who are year-round residents of the area, now displaced to a rental property elsewhere.

Photo courtesy of David Gard/The Star-Ledger

Hurricane Sandy Updates

November 5, 2012:  Our power and our telephones are restored, and we are now operating in a generally normal fashion.  We are getting caught up on shipments and order processing from last week, and we appreciate everyone's patience and understanding.

We have learned that the New Jersey League of Municipalities' conference has been canceled.  This conference, the 97th annual confab for mayors and municipal employees, was scheduled for next week in Atlantic City, and we have been an exhibitor there for decades.  But with so many towns reeling from the effects of the storm, including Atlantic City itself, the League made the right decision.  We'll see you all there next year.

November 1, 2012:  Due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy, we have been operating on generator power, our telephone service is out, cell phone service is spotty, and internet access comes and goes.  At the moment, it appears that the best way to reach us is via e-mail because we have been able to retrieve e-mail messages via the smartphone.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.