An 18-year-old man was charged with theft after he was caught with a stolen city parking meter in a shopping cart.
"Oh yeah the meter yeah! Wow," said Fred Calleon.
A city and county parking meter ripped out of the ground, leaving behind a shallow, narrow hole in the grassy sidewalk.
"That's crazy what the world is coming to," said Jenna Yap of Maui. "Oahu poor thing I'm from Maui, I don't know these things to normally happen."
Honolulu police received an anonymous tip at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, that two men were pushing a shopping cart with a meter in its basket near Makaloa and Kaheka Streets. When officers arrived, police say Shon Heanu-Rente tried to conceal the meter, then grabbed it and started running. He arrested nearby. The second man was arrested for an outstanding warrant.
"They need to take those guys and put them down and put them in a room that they cannot get out of," said area resident Bobby Dowler.
"Pretty desperate," said Calleon.
Those passing the un-metered stall questioned how was it pulled out of the ground. "In order for get that out they got to use something, some kind or something to loosen it up and then I guess they can pull it up," said George Ahia.
"Must have been pretty intense at 1 o'clock digging through, digging that thing out of the ground that late," said Calleon. "I mean nobody on the streets."
"And all the work to get it out," said Yap.
They also questioned why anyone would risk so much for so little.
"Pretty extreme, $20 worth, $30 worth not worth it," said Calleon.
"About $15 around there maybe more," said Ahia. "What else they going be doing next?"
The city says vandalism is an issue but this may be a first. Officials say the cost to replace the meter will be $589. They estimate there was $15 in the meter's cup at the time and the most they could have gotten away with was about $20. Yap was thinking much less.
"Nine dollars, can buy an extra large Happy Meal."
Heanu-Rente made his initial appearance in court Friday and pled not guilty to the petty misdemeanor charge. He was released and is expected back in court on April 28.
"They left one nickel thought today on the ground, yeah it was in the dirt there," said Dowler.
"I know free parking yeah free parking," said Yap.
HPD confirms it's okay to park there until the meter is replaced.
