Motorist thwarts highway light thieves

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WMAR) - While crews are out manning intersections with non-working traffic signals due to power outages, two thieves apparently thought it was a good time to steal a highway light pole, but their plans were foiled by an observant motorist.

The two were identified as James Phaneuf, 46, of Brooklyn and Quincy Hawkins, 47, of Glen Burnie.

Just before 9:00 a.m. Monday police received a call from a motorist who said something didn't look right about a pickup truck stopped on the ramp from eastbound I-695 to southbound Route 2.   

The motorist said the truck had its hood up, but the two men there did not appear to be working on the truck or waiting for help.

When a state trooper arrived, he found the two standing next to a highway light pole that was laying on the ground. The trooper saw that a power inverter had been hooked to the truck battery and was being used to run a reciprocating saw.

The men were using the saw to cut up the light pole, a section of that pole had already been loaded into the pickup.

State Highway Administration officials say the pole was valued at $1,740, in addition to the value it has in lighting up the ramp for motorists at night.

The two were charged with theft over $1,000 and malicious destruction of property. They were both released on recognizance.