More than 500 parking meters stolen in Atlanta
Grinches are stealing something other than Christmas from downtown Atlanta. And the city isn't stopping them.
City officials say crooks sawed off 546 parking meters this year —39 percent of all the meters in the city, at a total loss of $273,000.
Because it happens so often, the city does not report meter muggers to police, said Tenee Hawkins, spokeswoman for the Department of Public Works.
"If they don't report it to us, we don't investigate it," said Ron Campbell, a spokesman for the Atlanta Police Department.
Police have recovered a handful of stolen meters while investigating other cases, Hawkins said, but most never turn up.
Instead of replacing the standard meters —which cost $500 apiece and hold up to $40— the city has ordered 250 "mega meters" that look like mini ATMS and serve eight spaces.
"It would take a truck or construction equipment to move them," Hawkins said.
The new meters are to be installed in the spring, she said. Until then, the city is moving some standard meters from low-volume areas to busier parts of the city.
"There's a strategic approach for this," Hawkins said. "It's a very strange problem to have."