St. Louis police arrested a man Thursday who's accused of deliberately damaging dozens of fire hydrants across the city over a two-week period.
Prosecutors charged 64-year-old Harry Farmer with multiple counts of felony stealing and property damage.
Police said Farmer sawed brass valves from 43 fire hydrants in several north St. Louis neighborhoods between Sept. 11 and Sept. 25.
Surveillance video captured Farmer three times: on Sept. 23 at Blair and Branch streets, and again on Sept. 24 at Broadway and Bremen streets and Palm Street and North 9th Street.
Investigators said Farmer sold the valves at a St. Louis-area recycling facility, where he was also captured on surveillance video. Police said Farmer provided the business with his driver's license.
Authorities eventually tracked Farmer into Illinois, where St. Louis police and Illinois law enforcement took him into custody Thursday.
Officials said that firefighters can use a customized metal insert that will allow the damaged hydrants to operate but that it is only a temporary solution.
The department said the cost to replace each valve is estimated to be between $5,000 and $8,000.
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