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# It looks like they’re definitely our Stolen parking meters turn up in Santa Clarita
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/it-looks-like-theyre-definitely-our-stolen-parking-meters-turn-up-in-santa-clarita/
- Published: 2008-09-10T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:58:35.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Meters resurface*

*By DAILY PRESS STAFF*

SANTA CLARITA Sheriff’s Department officials here stumbled across an unusual find while investigating a man who was found digging through bags of clothing at a nearby Salvation Army on Monday.

After witnessing the man rummage through the donated items in the early morning hours, a deputy searched the man’s vehicle only to find three stolen Santa Monica parking meters. At the time, Santa Monica officials were unaware that the meters were even missing. The meters were accounted for last Friday and disappeared sometime during the weekend according to officials. meters,” said Mike Coffman, lead technician with the city’s parking department.

The meters were identified by location IDs on the meters’ heads. At least one of the meters was located on the 1400 block of 23rd Street. Another was located on the 2100 block of Arizona Avenue. Also, the suspect, Rick Day of Canyon Country, insinuated during an interview with sheriff’s deputies that the meters originated in Santa Monica.

Coffman said that the theft of parking meters is a rare occurrence and added that each meter usually contains no more than $10\. He said that meters are frequently emptied by city collection agents.

“We don’t have as big a problem as surrounding cites,” Coffman said, referring to stolen meters.

Coffman, who has worked for the city for 18 years, estimates that it’s been at least 10 years since a parking meter was stolen.

He anticipates that the meters will be replaced within a week or so and anticipates that the replacement costs will not exceed $2,000.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 10, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091008.pdf?ref=smdp.com)