An incident involving a vanished parking meter in Tsim Sha Tsui has been traced to a 45-year-old man, who is believed to have ripped the device out with his bare hands during an emotional fit.
Police arrested the man, surnamed Chan, at his Ngau Tau Kok home early Sunday morning on a charge of criminal damage.
The parking meter on Kimberley Street was first reported missing at around 11:30 am on Saturday. Initial investigation listed the incident as a theft case.
According to police officers, the suspect was earlier drinking and arguing with a female friend when he became emotional, RTHK reported. Out of frustration and after the friend had left, he began shaking and pulling the parking meter until it was dislodged from the metal pole. He then dumped it in a nearby alley.
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At his home, police officers found the clothes that the man was wearing at the time of the incident.
Police inspector Chan Ho-ting said the man, a janitor, is well-built and has the strength to yank out a parking meter.
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