Arthur Brian Grubb, 42, and Kenneth Powe, 50, were indicted Monday for safe cracking, vandalism of government property and theft, all felony charges.
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They have since been released from the Montgomery County Jail and were summoned to appear Jan. 21 for their arraignments in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.
EARLIER REPORT (Jan. 3)
More than 40 city of Dayton parking meters were damaged or stolen late last month in a crime that could cost the city thousands of dollars.
Police arrested two Dayton men they say were caught on camera in the act on Christmas Day.
News Center 7’s Monica Castro reports that there are more than a thousand parking meters that line the streets of downtown Dayton.
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After two vandals stole or damaged dozens of them late last month, it could prove costly for the city. The price to replace each meter is $860, but that doesn’t include the labor.
“Very odd thing to steal,” said Betina Baessler, who works downtown and has seen some of the vandalism.
“I noticed down at the end of the block, looks like there is one that is broken. There’s bits all over the place,” she said.
Police reviewed surveillance video, which captured two men, identified as Arthur Brian Grubb, 42, and Kenneth Powe, 50, in the act on Christmas Day. They were arrested the following day.
"The suspects either stole the meters and then damaged them to get to the money, or damaged meters where they stood in order to remove the money," according to a Dayton police spokesperson.
Grubb admitted to the vandalism to support his crack cocaine addiction, court documents show.
The city’s engineer said since Dec. 20, 46 meters have been damaged or stolen all over downtown.
As to how someone could damage the meters, the engineer said a hammer and screwdriver were found in one location.
“I don’t know how somebody would go about getting it out of the ground, but there are holes in the concrete where they were,” Baessler said. “They had to use some force, however they did it.”
Both men were charged with felony counts of vandalism to government property, safe cracking and theft.
They have since been released from the Montgomery County Jail and are due Monday in Dayton Municipal Court.
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