A Philadelphia man was arrested on March 19th at the former steel plant in Conshohocken (Plymouth Township) after he was discovered by a security guard and allegedly lied to police, which led to a search of the buildings that encompass a million square feet.
According to court documents, 43-year-old Michael Anthony Kropilak was spotted on the property after the security guard noticed a set of tools at approximately 8:30 a.m. Police were called and Kropilak claimed to Plymouth Township police officers that he came to the closed plant after a friend had contacted him in distress saying he was trapped under machinery and was having trouble breathing.
Police called a search and recuse team to the facility that included additional police, fire fighters, and EMS. The team searched the plant for two hours and did not discover anyone.
While the search was underway, an officer requested to search Kropilak’s phone to verify the calls and messages received about the friend in distress. Kropilak consented to this search.
While searching the phone, police allege that there were messages discussing the collection and sale of scrap metal, the plant, and the security guard and did not locate any calls or messages from the friend who was said to be in distress. Police claim that a ping of that friend’s number found the phone to be in Philadelphia.
The phone was then seized and police requested from Kropilak consent to continue searching the phone and it was granted. Police claim that this second search found messages regarding the collection of scrap metal and wires and the sale of these items. Police also seized the tools initially discovered by the security guard.
Kropilak was charged with multiple felonies including Burglary – Not Adapted for Overnight
Accommodation, Person Present (meaning a commercial property with a person there), Burglary – Not Adapted for Overnight Accommodation, No Person Present (meaning a commercial property without a person there), and Crim Tres-Enter Structure, Criminal Use Of Communication Facility. There were also four misdemeanors, including giving a false report.
Bail was initially set on March 19th at $20,000 monetary (which he was unable to post), but was changed to unsecured the following day and he was released. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 31st before Magisterial District Judge Jodi Griffis.
Break-ins at the plant have been an ongoing issue for police. On February 20th, the Plymouth Township Police Department issued a notice to the public that it had been called to the closed plant approximately a dozen times since the start of 2026.