Docs: Suspect accused of stealing Del City fountain lights thought they were made of gold
Del City police arrested a man accused of stealing outdoor lights from a fountain at a city park worth thousands of dollars.
DEL CITY, Okla. (KFOR) – Del City police arrested a man accused of stealing outdoor lights from a fountain at a city park worth thousands of dollars.
The incident happened June 12 at Patriot Park. An affidavit says police got a call that some LED lights had been stolen out of the Women's Veterans Monument fountain.
"There were at least nine of them stolen," said Major Brad Cowden with the Del City Police Department. "They cost of the light plus the labor to have them reinstalled and the wiring and just the simple fact that you're defacing a war memorial is a problem in and of itself."
Cowden said the lights cost about $250 a piece, which adds up to a very expensive problem. The City of Del City has shut the fountain down until proper repairs can be made.
News 4 asked Cowden why suspect Richard Montjar, who's charged with grand larceny, was motivated to steal the lights.
"He was of the belief that they were made of gold and that he was going to sell them," said Cowden.
Cowden said Montjar even tried to leave some of the lights at a grocery store June 25 in exchange for items he's accused of stealing. Montjar was arrested at that store and documents say officers found four of the lights on his person. Documents say Montjar admitted to stealing five of the lights, but nine in total were taken in the same manner on June 12.
Documents say Montjar unscrewed the lights from a stand and cut the electrical wire with a knife.
"It's definitely disheartening to see something like that take place," said Cowden.
News 4 reached out to a Del City spokesperson for comment. That spokesperson said the city is trying to find an engineer to come out and make repairs on the fountain before it can be filled again.
The spokesperson said the city is also trying to figure out a way to deter further vandalism in the future, noting that there have been similar instances in the past at the same park.