Chicago Man Arrested for Stealing Brass Fittings from University of Chicago
CHICAGO — In a bizarre turn of events, William Garner, a 60-year-old man, was apprehended for allegedly stealing brass fittings from urinals at the University of Chicago, resulting in significant damage to the school’s facilities.
University of Chicago police officers caught Garner in the act on September 14 and contacted the Chicago Police Department for assistance. Surveillance footage from the university revealed Garner tampering with urinals in one of the school buildings, leading to a massive water leak.
Upon his arrest, Garner was found in possession of five brass urinal flush valves and a pipe wrench, with three of the fittings reportedly taken from Cobb Hall, a historic building on the university’s campus. The cost of each stolen urinal fitting was estimated at $300, while repairs for the damaged elevator were projected to range between $5,000 and $8,000.
Garner was charged with two counts of burglary and two counts of possessing burglary tools, but he was released pending trial. However, he failed to appear in court on September 23, resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest.
Interestingly, this was not Garner’s first encounter with the University of Chicago. In 2017, he was sentenced to 14 months for stealing a bike from campus, and in 2018, he received a three-year sentence for attempting to break into a kitchen at Cobb Hall.
It remains to be seen how this unusual case will unfold in the legal system, but Garner’s history of targeting the university’s property raises questions about his motives and past behavior.
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