Parking meter thieves may cost city $82,304
Arizona Coin Collector
When I was reading this story, I notice that
the Temperature in Whitehorse was -20 degree c.
Dam cold place. Notice that the main story on
there web site was the frequent power outage.
Using a miners pick to break-in the parking
meters. I am sure they did not spend to much
time outside.
The coins would be heavy if the amount is
$82,304.00.
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FROM:
http://whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/parking-meter-thieves-may-cost-city-82304/
Whitehorse - Yukon - Canada
Parking meter thieves may cost city $82,304
Just weeks after the city installed new parking
meters and started charging new rates, thieves
are getting to the extra cash before city bylaw
officers can.
December 2, 2008
Just weeks after the city installed new parking
meters and started charging new rates, thieves
are getting to the extra cash before city
bylaw officers can.
At Monday evening's city council meeting,
members were asked to approve a $82,304
sole-source contract to acquire new, stronger
vaults (the bottom part of the meter) to
prevent the thefts.
"These are virtually bomb-proof," Rob Fendrick,
the city's director of administrative services,
told council as he displayed the new vault next
to a current vault.
Since the new meters on top of the vaults were
installed and new rates brought into effect in
October, 21 vaults have either been broken into
or stolen. The RCMP were contacted each time
about the thefts.
"The deliberate and co-ordinated and ongoing
theft of the meters was not anticipated,"
Fendrick said.
There is a need to deter the thieves without
having a guard on each meter at all times, he
added.
In an effort to deter the thieves, until more
secure vaults can be bought, bylaw officers
have started emptying them six days a week
rather than the previous two days weekly.
The report to council shows that on Oct. 17,
six were broken into on Third Avenue along
with three on Lambert Street and three on
Steele Street.
That was followed by the theft of three meters
on Wood Street on Oct. 20 and another six
being broken into on Steele Street on Nov. 26.
"Right now, they're essentially using a miner's
pick to basically open a meter," Fendrick said.
"It's not easy to do, but can be undertaken.
"This new vault will be totally impervious to
that. So we better buy these meters quick
because I just told everyone how to do it."
The comment was greeted by laughter from those
gathered in council chambers.
The mirth continued as Coun. Dave Austin
wondered aloud just how far downhill mining in
the territory has gone.
Getting back to business, Fendrick recommended
the contract that would see 500 vaults replaced
in the city, go to Trafco (Canada) Ltd. with
the cash coming out of the city's parking
reserve fund.
Awarding the contract to Trafco, Fendrick said,
would provide consistency and availability to
do the work. Trafco was responsible for
installing the meters in a $132,710 contract
earlier this year.
"If we don't do this, we're going to have
ongoing theft," Fendrick said, also pointing
to the need for expanded work hours to collect
the coins if nothing is done.
Already, the city has pulled bylaw officers
off of time they'd normally spend writing
tickets to collect change from the vaults.
At a previous cost in wages of about $461.46
to collect the change twice per week, the city
is now spending $1,490 to gather the change
six days a week, the report to council notes.
While Fendrick acknowledged there's potential
for the entire unit to be stolen once the new
vaults are installed, he noted the RCMP have
informed the city they'll be doing additional
patrols of the area following the reports of
the thefts.
Council will vote on whether to award
the contract next week.
..