Stolen fire hydrant wrench causes problems in Dexter

By NOREEN HYSLOP ~ The Daily Statesman

DEXTER, Mo. -- Police are on the lookout for culprits who have evidently got their hands on a wrench designed to open up and shut off water hydrants in the city.

According to City Administrator Mark Stidham on Friday morning, a utility wrench was left at a work site overnight Wednesday and could not be found Thursday morning.

Between the overnight hours of Wednesday and early Friday morning, between 300,000 and 400,000 gallons of water had been released from hydrants around the city. One of those was on Hickory Street, another on Olive Street on the east end of the city, and another at Stoddard and Locust streets.

"The individual or individuals responsible for this probably does not realize that this is not just a prank. Since 9/11, things have changed. This now falls under the Home Security Act, which makes it a felony offense to tamper with a city's waterworks."

Stidham said the city of Dexter is putting an offer on the table.

"If they will turn in the wrench to city hall -- even if they would leave it on the front step of city hall -- there will be no questions asked and no charges filed."

But if the problems continue and the responsible party or parties are found, they will be taken into custody and charged.

"While they might think this is fun and games," Stidham said, "it is really serious business. Our hope is that they turn over the tool, and this will be behind them."