DETROIT (WWJ) -- A man is under arrest for posing as a Detroit Public Works employee and stealing over $20,000 worth of tree grates.
The upgrades were a part of a $7 million spruce-up of Kercheval and East Grand Boulevard on Detroit's east side.
A Good Samaritan snapped a picture of the man wearing a safety vest as he stole one of the metal grates that had been placed at the base of brand new trees.
Police say the man is a scrapper and made off with 43 of the grates last week, which weigh about 200 pounds each.
After several scrapyards refused to buy the grates, the man was caught when one yard scanned his thumbprint and identified him to police.
The suspect was arrested and charged with Larceny and Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property. Each charge carries a 5-year felony.
