Thief rams meters for $20,000

Most people have been annoyed by parking meters, but few have expressed their frustration in the same way as Alan William Hayward.

The 32-year-old has pleaded guilty to ramming about 40 meters in Christchurch with stolen four-wheel drives and driving off with $20,000.

His spree - between September and November last year - caused $400,000 damage and came while he was on parole after being jailed for similar offences four years ago.

Hayward was remanded in custody after Friday's hearing at Christchurch District Court.

But his former partner-in-crime Hadlee Bratton said she wasn't surprised he was facing further prison time.

Bratton was also sentenced to jail for her part in the 2006 ram-raids but said she had since washed her hands of Hayward.

"It's not a part of my past I like to remember."

She said parking meters could be lucrative targets - and police probably underestimated the take from Hayward's first set of offences by about $5000.

"A parking meter on a Sunday night, after a busy weekend, could be worth $700 to $800.

"No one really empties them during the weekend."

The couple aren't the only Kiwis to target meters.

Charges were laid in January against West Auckland man Grant Edward Lindsay Hart for stealing 12 council-owned pay and display machines last year.

And $100,000 damage was caused in Palmerston North when 27 meters went missing or had coins stolen from them last year.

Hayward will be sentenced on July 9.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA