In all his years in Public Works, commissioner John Lippert could not believe his eyes when he saw the pictures taken by a utility worker. The man in question grabbed the pole lying on the side of the road and then tried to put it on top of his minivan.
Electrician Bobbie Zayas, who works for Harry Rotolo and Son installing the poles, got a call from another friend who had confronted the would-be thief.
Sold for scrap, Zayas figures the man might have received $100 at most, and he adds that many dealers probably would not have accepted the pole.
Wallkill police have the case, and an investigator says they are developing a description of the suspect. If arrested, he could face attempted grand larceny and criminal mischief.
In the meantime, the damaged pole was fixed and reinstalled, and Lippert chalks it up as one for the record books.
"It's bizarre," he said. "Words can't describe it...write your own caption, as they say."
---
WEB PRODUCED BY: Bill King
NEW YORK AND TRI-STATE AREA NEWS
USEFUL LINKS:
REPORT A TYPO || GET WIDGET
VIDEO: Eyewitness News || VIDEO: ABC News || VIEWER PHOTOS & VIDEOS ||
