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February 13, 2020 - 1:47 PM
The Vernon RCMP has arrested two people alleged to have broken into parking meters, one was caught with a homemade device designed to retrieve coins from parking meters, while the other broke a court order by being within one metre of a parking meter.
According to a Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media release, the arrests were made over two days because members of the public called in to report the crimes.
At around 8:30 p.m. Feb. 12, the RCMP received a report from a witness who had just seen a man breaking into parking meters on 30 Street. Police caught up with the 39-year-old man within minutes of receiving the call. He was arrested and charged with mischief and theft as well as breaking a court-imposed order not to be with one metre of a parking metre and not to possess break-in tools.
The following day at around 4:30 a.m. Feb. 13, RCMP had another call from a citizen to report a man breaking into parking meters on Centennial Drive. The same person had seen the man in the area the day before and was suspicious of his activity. Police arrived within minutes and arrested a 35-year-old man. He was found to have a homemade device used to retrieve coins from the parking meters in his possession. He now faces charges of mischief, theft, and a breach of his probation.
“It takes a team effort to mitigate crime in the downtown core of Vernon. Police cannot be everywhere to see crime as it happens,” Vernon RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Tania Finn said in the release. “We are appreciative of those who take the time to call us when they witness a crime or observe something they feel a police officer should check out.”
Both men remain in custody waiting to appear in court.
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