Duo arrested for stealing power pole after Hurricane Irma
Police officers in the US have arrested two men for allegedly trying to steal a power pole in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
Blake Lee Waller, 42, and Victor Walter Apeler, 46, were both charged with grand theft after they were reportedly caught strapping the US$2500 pole to a car roof on Wednesday, the Florida Times Union has reported.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's office shared a photograph of the arrest on Twitter, which has since gone viral.
These two were caught stealing a JEA pole just this morning! Citizens watching out and officers cleaning up = partnership! #Irma #JSO pic.twitter.com/q6VKOvPKuU
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) September 13, 2017
"These two were caught stealing a JEA pole just this morning!" the tweet said.
"Citizens watching out and officers cleaning up = partnership."
Mr Apeler initially told polcie officers he was just moving the downed power pole away from traffic, Action News Jax reported.
However, a pawn shop database search revealed that he had sold dozens of pieces of scrap-metal since January.
The men remain in cusdoy at the Jacksonville Sheriff's office and are due to appear in court coming days.
