Southie Hydrant Thieves Arrested

(from BPDNews.com)

At about 12:13am, on Monday, January 17, 2011, officers from Area C-6 (South Boston) responded to a radio call for larceny in progress in the area of 35 Thomson Place in South Boston.  On arrival, officers spoke to security personnel who stated that they observed two males using tools to steal the caps off a hydrant from the rear of 35 Thomson Place. A search of the area enabled officers to locate and stop two individuals who looked like the suspects. Officers promptly noted that the both suspects were carrying what appeared to be heavily weighted backpacks. Moreover, one suspect was carrying a milk crate while the other was carrying a pair of blue pliers. Additionally, in the immediate area, officers observed a second unattended milk crate containing several cast iron caps.    

After the suspects were positively identified by the security personnel who first spotted them, officers arrested Ken Ralphis, 32, of Revere and Jeff Larkin, 33, of Revere and charged both with Larceny (Over $250), Possession of Burglarious Tools, Willful & Malicious Destruction of Property (Over $250) and Trespassing.
A search of the backpacks enabled offices to locate several more iron caps. All in all, officers were able see and seize two fire hydrant tops with side covers, four side covers, three plugs, eight building stand pipe covers, two hammers, one pipe wrench, two channel lock pliers, one wire cutter, one bike chain, two black backpacks and two black milk crates.

A search of the immediate area enabled officers to locate and observe several more hydrants missing caps and plugs in the area of 22 Thomson Place, 4 Stilling St, and 22 Boston Wharf Road.