A parking meter vandalism spree has erupted on the city’s North Side five years after Chicago’s parking meter system officially transferred into the private control of Chicago Parking Meters, LLC which spurred a similar rash of meter vandalism back in 2009.

The Chicago Police Department reported Thursday at least 13 pay boxes were damaged using a heavy blunt object or tool in the Lakeview, Wicker Park, West Town and Andersonville neighborhoods. The damage has been severe enough to disable the units from working properly.

Back in March of 2009, in what seemed to be an angry reaction to a highly unpopular parking meter lease deal, which caused parking meter rates to quadruple, parking meters across the city were smashed, spray painted and lit on fire.

In the subsequent five years traditional single head parking meters were replaced by multi-space parking meter pay boxes and the mood of drivers cooled. But apparently some motorists may still be harboring frustration with the hated deal and parking meter rates which rank as the highest in the nation.

The recent meter vandalism spree took place over a two to three day period late last week, between March 12th and 14th. Curiously, according to CPD, most of the incidents took place in broad daylight.

In a “business alert” released Monday afternoon, “Unknown Offender(s) are damaging the parking meters owned by LAZ PARKING. The offender(s) are breaking the display glass, credit card readers and display brackets by use of a blunt instrument or tool, thereby causing meter malfunction or shut down.”

But the police are looking for the public’s help in apprehending whomever is involved with this criminal damage to property.

CPD recommends calling 911 if you see someone in the act of destroying a meter pay box or have any information related to these incidents, contact the Bureau of Detectives – Area North at (312) 744-8263.

While drivers are not required to pay a broken or malfunctioning parking meter pay box LAZ customer service personnel advise using another nearby meter if you park near an inoperable unit.

Motorists parked adjacent to a broken meter who are issued an expired meter parking violation can contest the ticket as long as they report the meter to 877-242-7901 or online within 24 hours.

Drivers should make note of the incident report number to reference when contesting the ticket.

Chicago Parking Meters, LLC did not respond to requests for comment on the incidents.

Here’s a partial list of some of damaged pay boxes including incident dates, times and pay box locations.

900 block of W. Chicago Ave on March 12, 2014 at 12:00 P.M.

900 block of W. Ogden Ave on March 12, 2014 at 12:00 P.M.

3700 block of N. Racine on March 12, 2014 at 3:00P.M.

700 block of W. Buckingham on March 12, 2014 at 3:00 P.M.

4500 block of N. Clark on March 12, 2014 at 3:00 A.M.

4800 block of N. Clark on March 12, 2014 at 3:00 P.M.

1600 block of W. North on March 12, 2014 at 3:00 P.M.

1400 block of W. Summerdale on March 12, 2014 at 3:00 P.M.

5700 block of N. Broadway on March 13, 2014 at 1:00 A.M.

1600 block of W. North on March 12, 2014 at 3:00 P.M.

1100 block of W. Rosemont on March 13, 2014 at 3:00 P.M.

1100 block of W. Waveland on March 12, 2014 at 3:00 P.M.

1600 block of N. Wood on March 14, 2014 at 4:00 A.M.

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