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2 arrested for attempted parking meter theft in Uniontown | TribLIVE.com
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2 arrested for attempted parking meter theft in Uniontown

Police who have been investigating the theft of 32 parking meters in Fayette County arrested two men after allegedly finding the pair trying to steal a meter early Monday.

Robert Lee Young, 46, of RD 3 Box 272, Blaney Hollow, Smithfield, and his nephew, Richard D. Young, 28, of 122 Bailey Ave., Uniontown, are charged with attempted theft, criminal conspiracy, possession of instruments of crime and criminal mischief, police said.

Police are trying to figure out if the pair are behind the disappearance of any other meters, reported Patrolman Chuck David.

David said an investigation was initiated last week after a city employee reported several meters had gone missing.

"He said he replaced some, so we went around and checked every street that has meters," David said. "We found 32 missing and 17 broken into."

Meters were found missing or damaged on South, Fayette, West South and Church Streets, Beeson Avenue, and near Dimarco's restaurant on Morgantown Street and the Uniontown Library, David said.

The pair was taken into custody 1:09 a.m. Monday when Captain David Rutter spotted them on mountain bikes near a parking meter on East Church Street.

The two men were dressed in black, said Rutter in a report, and tried to hide behind two trees when he drove up in an unmarked patrol car.

Robert Young tried to hide a hacksaw behind his right leg when the officer stopped and activated his car's emergency lights, police said. At the same time, Richard Young tried unsuccessfully to flee on one of the bikes, according to police.

"The parking meter post that Robert Young was next to was cut halfway and the gloves that Richard Young had on had metal shavings on them," Rutter reported. "Both had wet mud and dirt on their pants around the knee area."

In a criminal complaint, police valued the parking meters at $500 each. The poles are valued at $50 each.

Both men were arraigned before District Judge Ronald Haggerty Jr. of Connellsville and placed in the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bond each.

They face preliminary hearings tentatively scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, before Uniontown District Judge Michael Metros.