Man arrested for allegedly stealing school bus batteries

Police respond to a call in which two batteries from each of 10 Portsmouth (Va.) Public Schools buses were pulled and cut from the cables. The suspect in the incident has been charged with grand larceny, larceny with the intent to sell and destruction of property over $1,000.

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March 31, 2011

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Portsmouth police officers responded to a call on Monday morning about several damaged Portsmouth Public Schools buses.

The damage was discovered by bus drivers, who reported it to district officials. The officials then contacted police.

The buses had been parked in a lot surrounded by a fence. Officers discovered that two batteries had been removed from each of the damaged buses.

The batteries were pulled and cut from the cables, causing additional damage. Ten buses were damaged, and 20 batteries were taken. The estimated damage and loss was over $3,000.

Later on Monday, Detective R. Overstreet, from the department's Property Crimes Unit, was continuing his investigation when he observed the suspect in the incident attempting to sell the stolen batteries. Milton Harvey Hoover, 40, was taken into custody and charged with grand larceny, larceny with the intent to sell, and destruction of property over $1,000. He was later turned over to the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office, pending a court appearance.

Overstreet recovered most of the batteries.

Topics:Safety

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