Pair in court after parking meter ram-raids

A man and a woman face burglary, theft and receiving charges after a spate of ram-raids on new parking meters in Christchurch.

Twenty three of the Christchurch City Council's new pay-and-display machines were knocked over or broken into over the past three weeks for the few coins they contained.

Installed progressively from July, the new meters accept credit cards and other methods of payment as well as coins.

Security camera images taken when three meters were attacked near the central city's Latimer Square last week helped police identify two people.

A man, 29, and a 23-year-old woman were to appear in Christchurch District Court today, police said.

The man faces charges relating to knocking down the parking meters with a vehicle, theft of the vehicle and theft of cash.

The woman is charged with receiving.

- NZPA