2 men accused in parking scam
Spaces in MBTA employee lot were allegedly peddled
Two men were arrested on accusations that they attempted to charge the public for parking spaces in an MBTA employee lot near North Station before the
An Orange Line inspector, Greg Lowe, 53, of Brockton, reported seeing two men stopping cars and motioning them into the parking lot on Valenti Way at around 7:15 p.m., said Lieutenant Commander Robert Lenehan of the MBTA Transit Police.
“It’s a quick hit, and most people are embarrassed to report it,’’ Lenehan said.
Daniel Campbell, 47, a homeless man, and Thomas Fitzpatrick, 43, of Dorchester were arrested on charges of larceny by false pretenses and trespassing, Lenehan said. They were arraigned yesterday in Boston Municipal Court and held on $1,000 bail, the Suffolk district attorney’s office said. Not guilty pleas were entered for each on their behalf.
The suspects allegedly flagged down two women, who were in separate cars with their children, and offered parking spaces to them for $30 each. One of the women had already paid when Transit Police arrived in the middle of the second transaction, Lenehan said.
One of the alleged victims said she had paid for a space with three $10 bills. “We asked [the suspects] to empty their pockets, and, lo and behold, they only had $30 on them in $10 bills,’’ said Lenehan.
During an interview by police, Fitzpatrick heard one of the accusers say she was charged $35, Lenehan said.
One of the suspects responded, “We only charge $30,’’ said Lenehan.
Transit Police are holding the money as evidence, and the women were allowed to park in the lot.
Although Transit Police say they know of similar scams, it is rare that they are reported or caught in progress.
For instance, on back-to-back nights about two years ago, police received reports about scammers portraying themselves as employees of the parking garage under North Station, Lenehan said.
The scammers collected money from visitors in advance while they waited to park before a pop concert at the Garden. “By the time we got out there, these guys were gone and nobody wanted to officially report it,’’ Lenehan said.
Lowe, an 18-year Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority employee, said he would report Tuesday night’s scam again.
“I [saw] some money exchanged, and at that time I thought, ‘Something’s not right here,’ ’’ Lowe said. “I’m just doing my job. I’m just glad they were caught.’’
“It’s always refreshing when someone does something that you want them to do,’’ Lenehan said.
