Fair Lawn residents unsettled by mysterious noise rattling neighborhood

FAIR LAWN (WABC) -- Mysterious loud noises are keeping some residents in awake at night in New Jersey.

Fair Lawn police say that they have received numerous reports over the last few days, but so far, no one has been able to pinpoint the cause of the disturbances.

The noises have unnerved people living in close proximity to the Passaic River, who say the sounds began Sunday and have been heard at least three other times.

Some report that it sounds like huge garbage dumpsters banging together or even loud fireworks. An electrical substation on the Paterson side of the river has apparently been ruled out as a possible source.

On social media, an alien conspiracy theory is gaining momentum.

Fair Lawn Mayor John Congrove is taking the noise seriously because of security concerns, and he says police are beefing up patrols in the area.

"People have heard this noise several blocks away, you know, 15 to 20 blocks away," he said. "We're vigilant about it. We have been in contact with Paterson and the authorities and our police department, and we just hope that anyone who hears the noise, if they could contact us here at the Fair Lawn Police Department, and we could possibly narrow it down to the time and find out where it's coming from."

Congrove says he has his pulse on the entire community and that he's working hard to determine what is causing the mystery sound.