Mysterious drone activity, reported in parts of New Jersey and neighboring states, has reached Hopewell Township, raising concerns about public safety and prompting Hopewell Township police to respond with the following statement:
Prior to that statement, drones were spotted this weekend and this morning over houses and businesses along Route 31, south of the traffic circle, and Hopewell residents expressed frustration via Facebook posts that the widely published number for reporting the sightings to the Federal Bureau of Investigations was (at that time) not working. This morning at 6am, the 800 number had a recording that said the FBI was “experiencing technical difficulties.” The line later cleared up, and greeted callers with a series of prerecorded directions. Complaints about the nonworking FBI number also appear in comments on the Princeton Police Department’s Facebook page.
As the sightings continue across New Jersey and neighboring states, with no information yet on who is operating the drones, CBS News reported that 20 mayors in Morris County sent a letter to Governor Phil Murphy “demanding action” regarding the drones’ night-time flights. After a drone in Somerset last month prevented a medevac helicopter from landing to pick up a seriously injured patient, some view the activity as a public safety issue.
Police department responses to the activity vary: Princeton police issued a statement Saturday that is similar to Hopewell’s. Evesham police held a press conference to report that they added patrols to monitor the drone activity “over critical infrastructure” and to share local details with state police. On Monday morning, prior to this afternoon’s official statement, when asked about the issue by phone, one Hopewell Township officer said only “We know as much as you guys. There’s nothing we can do.”
Following sightings in North Jersey, police departments in Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel, Medford and Evesham Township received complaints about drone activity. Residents who spot the drones are still being advised to try reporting sightings directly to the FBI by calling 800-225-5324 or submit a report online at tips.fbi.gov. Citizens can also upload videos directly through the FBI’s online portal.