Dozens of parking meters have been stolen from downtown streets, and Fort Worth Police are asking for the public's help to locate the thieves.
"We don't know if it's a ring of people doing it, or one or two," said Officer Daniel Segura.
At least 35 meters have been stolen within the last month, police said. Some meters were sawed clean off their posts, while others were pulled straight out of the pavement. They're missing in several locations, including in front of the First United Methodist Church on West 5th Street.
The spree of thefts reminds many of the classic scene in Cool Hand Luke where Paul Newman is caught stealing meters, but it's not cool for the City of Fort Worth.
A single parking meter can cost $800 or more, according to POM Inc., a meter manufacturer that supplies some of Fort Worth's meters. That figure doesn't include installation costs or lost revenue while meters are missing.
Some drivers downtown who slipped into spots with missing meters admitted they chose their parking places for a reason.
"For today, it's free, maybe?" said driver Patricia Moctzuma. "I don't know. I need to pay something."
She certainly wasn't alone, but police say you should call it in if you notice a missing meter and find a different parking spot.
"They're going to have to look for a place that has a way of paying," said Segura.
Police are hoping that someone will come forward with information about the thefts, or that nearby businesses may have captured the criminals on surveillance cameras.
"This is costing the city money, [costing the] taxpayers money," said Segura.
While some Fort Worth meters feature credit card readers, police do not believe that users are at risk of having their data stolen. WFAA does not know the specific models that were stolen, but a POM Inc. representative said their meters do not store credit card information locally on the devices.
Police believe the motive for the thefts is the money inside the meters more than gathering scrap metal. Meters are emptied every day, but a manufacturer told WFAA the largest meter on the market could hold up to $60 if stuffed full of quarters.
Fort Worth Police think the thieves there made off with a lot less.
"I'm thinking $10, $15," said Segura.
It's a tiny payoff for a strange crime that could result in serious jail time.