Vernon parking meter thief caught in the act

VERNON – A man suspected of breaking into over 100 parking meters has been caught.

Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in a statement a 34-year-old man was arrested breaking into a parking meter on Centennial Drive on Friday, Dec. 4 at around 1 a.m.

“To date, approximately 113 parking meters have been broken into in the Vernon downtown area over the last several weeks. The total cost of the damage is well over $20,000,” Noseworthy says.

She says an intensive investigation was launched between members of the RCMP and Vernon bylaw officers to catch the thief in the act.

Charges of theft under $5000, mischief under $5000, and possession of a coin-operated device breaking instrument have been recommended to Crown counsel.

The man is being held to appear in court Monday. His name is not being released at this time.

Vernon bylaw says some of the broken parking meter pieces have turned up in strange places.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 9:11 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 to correct information on the location of the arrest which was incorrectly provided by Vernon RCMP.