DAVIE, Fla. – Davie police arrested a man who allegedly attempted to steal a generator used to power traffic lights after Hurricane Irma.
Jason William Hope, 40, was charged with grand theft after the early Thursday morning incident.
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Officers noticed Hope standing outside a vehicle on the side of the road at the intersection of Davie Road and State Road 84.
Despite the hood of the car being up and the hazard lights turned on, Hope did not ask for assistance.
While one officer spoke with Hope about the car, another officer noticed the chain meant to secure a nearby generator had been cut.
As the officers met to discuss the situation, the car, driven by a woman, left the scene. The officers were able to intercept the car a few blocks away.
Inside the silver Mazda, the officers observed through the window a pair of large bolt cutters and the back seats were folded down.
Hope, who is currently on probation for another crime, originally denied he was trying to steal the generator, then claimed the attempted theft was made to obtain heroin and a hotel room.
After receiving consent from the car's owner, police collected the bolt cutters.