A former Atlanta city water worker is being investigated by police after at least $60,000 worth of water meters disappeared, Channel 2 Action News reports.
"It’s a fairly good-sized financial loss for the city,” Atlanta police Detective Dan Titus told Channel 2. “Water meters are fairly expensive, and you’ve got a large number of them that went missing over the course of five months.”
A total of 174 meters vanished. Copper wiring and other water supply components also are unaccounted for.
An audit by the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management found that the meters “never showed up as having been installed,” Titus said. “These are the meters that occupy the measuring space between the city supply and the residential piping.”
Police also are looking for missing copper pieces that go on top of fire hydrants.
So far the investigation has centered on a 30-year city veteran of the water department who recently was fired, police said.
Police asked anyone with information to contact Atlanta Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. The program offers a reward of up to $2,000 for information that assists investigations. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
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