SPD: 2 caught breaking into parking meters

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Springfield police say that they caught two homeless men as they were breaking into parking meters downtown early Friday morning.

Sergeant John Delaney told 22News that patrolling officers saw Richard Pioggia, 39, and Jamie Canterbury, 39, both of the Worthington Street homeless shelter, smashing open parking meters on Court Street at around 5:30 A.M.

Police found that the two had a hammer, and that Pioggia was carrying $7.10 in change while Canterbury had $6.20 in change.

They are charged with larceny over $250, breaking into a depository, and possession of burglarious instruments. Pioggia also had two outstanding warrants, Delaney says.

Both men were scheduled for arraignment Friday at Springfield District Court.

Delaney says that there have been several break-ins of parking meters downtown in the last ten days.

The arrests of Pioggia and Canterbury are the first arrest of their kind this summer. Last month, 21 year-old Kimberly Lenois was arrested after someone allegedly spotted her using a screwdriver to break into parking meters on Bridge Street.