$1K in Quarters Found on Parking Meter Thief: Police

SILVER SPRING, MD — Security cameras reportedly captured a man emptying parking meter coin boxes — to the tune of $1,000 — at a Silver Spring parking garage, authorities say.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department have charged Stephen Murray, 46, of an unconfirmed address, with the Sept. 27 theft of coins from parking meters inside a county-owned parking garage in Silver Spring.

On Sept. 28, a Montgomery County Department of Transportation employee reported the theft of coins from meters at 8530 Cameron St. The agency noted discrepancies between the anticipated revenue from the parking meters and what was actually being collected, and employees suspected someone was stealing change from the meters.

A review of video surveillance from inside the parking garage showed Murray reportedly opened several parking meters and removed coins at about 3 a.m. on Sept. 27.

Murray was not an employee of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation and was not authorized to open the meters. Special keys are needed to open the meters and the coin boxes inside them.

Murray was recognized by a patrol officer on Friday at 1101 Bonifant St. as the suspect on the surveillance video. When the officer stopped Murray, he allegedly had two large bags of quarters, totaling an estimated $1,000, with him, as well as keys capable of unlocking the parking meters.

Murray was arrested and taken to the Central Processing Unit, where he was charged with theft offenses. Murray was ordered held on a $1,500 bond.

»Photo of suspect Stephen Murray, courtesy of Montgomery County Police