USS Ling flood after vandals open hatches and four bronze plaques stolen from memorial for thousands of lives lost in World War II. North Jersey Record
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Authorities have upped charges against five people accused of burglarizing the USS Ling in Hackensack, who are now charged with flooding the historic submarine during two break-ins last summer, allegedly causing damage in the hundreds of thousands, according to the submarine’s trustees. 
An eight-count indictment from July 9 added counts of conspiracy and knowingly causing a flood, both second-degree crimes, to the burglary and criminal mischief charges the five so-called urban explorers faced for allegedly stealing artifacts from the WWII-era vessel. 
Police initially declined to charge the group with flooding the Ling with 10 feet of water during the alleged burglaries, citing insufficient evidence on when the flooding occurred. 
But the recent indictment alleges that the five “did conspire with each other to commit the crime of causing or risking widespread injury or damage” and “did purposely or knowingly unlawfully cause a flood.”
Both the conspiracy and flooding charges carry five- to 10-year state prison terms and fines of up to $150,000.
Meanwhile, the 1,500-ton submarine continues to wade in the Hackensack River. Though it is still afloat, several valuable artifacts from when the Ling served as a museum — radio transmitters, uniforms, textiles — are lost from water damage, said Gilbert De Laat, president of Submarine Memorial Association. 
“Just to remove the water you’re probably looking at a quarter of a million dollars,” De Laat said. 
Letter: A note to vandals of the USS Ling
More: 5 things to know about the historic USS Ling submarine
Hackensack police launched an investigation last summer when the locks were found cut and hatches opened on the 312-foot-long submarine, allowing water to spill in. Bronze memorial plaques valued at $10,000 were also missing, along with a lantern and a Medical Corps lieutenant shoulder lapel. 
Police in September 2018 charged Jon Stevens and Laura Palmese of Connecticut with the burglary and theft. A week later, authorities signed complaints against Edward Johnson, Stacey Bouley and Robb Hemberger, all of whom are from out of state. 
All five were allegedly identified as urban explorers who visit abandoned buildings and other places and catalog what they find.
Police said the burglaries occurred across two separate visits in July and August 2018. 
Each faces charges of criminal mischief, conspiracy and knowingly causing a flood. Stevens and Palmese are charged with theft in excess of $200, and all but Palmese are charged with burglary. 
Attorneys for Stevens, Palmese and Hembeger did not return calls for comment Tuesday. 
The USS Ling once served as the New Jersey Naval Museum's centerpiece exhibit, but damage to the museum from Superstorm Sandy forced its closure in 2013. 
The submarine and the parcel where it has resided since 1974 are on the federal and state registers of historic places. 
De Laat said the vessel can float, but reduced water flow in the Hackensack River make it difficult for tugboats or barges to remove it. 
Ideas have been suggested over the years to relocate the Ling, possibly by cutting the ship into sections for the move, he said. 
But, he noted: “All these questions are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. There’s just no resource for it.” 
Jack Brown, a trustee of the New Jersey Naval Museum in Hackensack, home to the the USS Ling SS-297, boards a dingy with members of the Hackensack police department to check out the damage on the submarine after it was recently vandalized. The hatches on the sub were opened allowing water to flood into the sub.
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USS Ling submarine in Hackensack vandalized
Meanwhile, the 1,500-ton submarine continues to wade in the Hackensack River. Though it is still afloat, several valuable artifacts from when the Ling served as a museum — radio transmitters, uniforms, textiles — are lost from water damage, said Gilbert De Laat, president of Submarine Memorial Association. 
“Just to remove the water you’re probably looking at a quarter of a million dollars,” De Laat said. 
Letter: A note to vandals of the USS Ling
More: 5 things to know about the historic USS Ling submarine
Hackensack police launched an investigation last summer when the locks were found cut and hatches opened on the 312-foot-long submarine, allowing water to spill in. Bronze memorial plaques valued at $10,000 were also missing, along with a lantern and a Medical Corps lieutenant shoulder lapel. 
Police in September 2018 charged Jon Stevens and Laura Palmese of Connecticut with the burglary and theft. A week later, authorities signed complaints against Edward Johnson, Stacey Bouley and Robb Hemberger, all of whom are from out of state. 
All five were allegedly identified as urban explorers who visit abandoned buildings and other places and catalog what they find.
Police said the burglaries occurred across two separate visits in July and August 2018. 
Each faces charges of criminal mischief, conspiracy and knowingly causing a flood. Stevens and Palmese are charged with theft in excess of $200, and all but Palmese are charged with burglary. 
Attorneys for Stevens, Palmese and Hembeger did not return calls for comment Tuesday. 
The USS Ling once served as the New Jersey Naval Museum's centerpiece exhibit, but damage to the museum from Superstorm Sandy forced its closure in 2013. 
The submarine and the parcel where it has resided since 1974 are on the federal and state registers of historic places. 
De Laat said the vessel can float, but reduced water flow in the Hackensack River make it difficult for tugboats or barges to remove it. 
Ideas have been suggested over the years to relocate the Ling, possibly by cutting the ship into sections for the move, he said. 
But, he noted: “All these questions are