David H. Dickens
AUGUSTA — An Augusta man is accused of stealing an eclectic group of items over the past six months, including liquor, chips, DVDs, a pet hair remover, and two manhole covers belonging to the Greater Augusta Utility District.
David H. Dickens, 29, faces four separate indictments, each describing thefts that occurred in Augusta. The indictments were handed up Thursday by a Kennebec County grand jury at the Capital Judicial Center. Indictment is not an indication of guilt, only that there is enough evidence to go to trial.
The thefts of manhole covers – each of which weighs between 250 and 300 pounds, depending on diameter – occurred April 28 and 29.
Brian Tarbuck, general manager of the Greater Augusta Utility District, said the covers were taken from Green Street.
“Apparently a passerby noticed there was no manhole cover, and he called the (police department) and the PD called us,” Tarbuck said. He also said a similar theft occurred several years ago and a man and woman were charged at that time.
“You have to work hard to remove a manhole cover,” he added. “They weigh a lot; we use industrial magnets with levers to lift them off. They have to be pretty heavy to support certain weights and make sure trucks don’t run over them and pop them off.”
Tarbuck said the two covers stolen in April were recovered May 16 by the police. “Hats off to the fine folks at APD for finding stolen utility property,” he said Friday.
While the covers have no distinguishing marks, Tarbuck said the local scrapyard operators usually question anyone bringing them in for recycling since they are unusual items. The manhole covers cost the district $130-$230, again, depending on diameter, he said.
Tarbuck said so far there have been no accidents reported as a result of missing manhole covers. “We’ve been very lucky; it’s very, very dangerous for a motorist to put a wheel into one of these open holes or for a person to fall in.”
Dickens’ other charges include the May 27 theft of a pet hair remover device from Walgreens, the Sept. 19 theft of DVDs from Shaw’s and violating conditions of release, the Sept. 26 theft of liquor and potato chips from Hannaford on Cony Street and violation of condition of release.
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