Anchorage Parking Meter Thefts Cost EasyPark Thousands

The city’s parking authority reported 480 meters were destroyed or stolen in 2026 to access internal coin boxes.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Property Crime

Anchorage Parking Meter Thefts Cost EasyPark Thousands

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Should your local government eliminate coin payments at parking meters to stop theft?

EasyPark spent over $450,000 replacing and repairing 480 parking meters that were stolen or destroyed throughout 2026. Thieves targeted the units to access the approximately $30 in cash held inside each device.

Why it matters

The persistent destruction of municipal property has forced the agency to consider abandoning physical coin collection entirely. This shift reflects the high costs of maintaining cash-based infrastructure against determined criminal activity.

Destruction of a parking meter is classified as a Class C felony under state law. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to address the theft of 480 meters by perpetrators using sledgehammers, saws, or trucks.

The players

EasyPark

This is the municipal authority responsible for managing and maintaining parking facilities and meters in Anchorage.

Anchorage Assembly

This local governing body will review the upcoming proposal to determine if the city will cease accepting coin payments at parking meters.

The details

Despite efforts to secure the devices with retrofitted stronger locks, thieves continue to remove meters from poles to claim the cash. EasyPark currently services the boxes twice a week, but the frequency of attacks has necessitated a new proposal to eliminate coin payments.

In 2025, EasyPark invested $1.5 million to purchase 1,500 new parking meters.
Between January and October 2026, 480 parking meters were stolen or destroyed.
EasyPark proposes stopping all coin payments at meters on January 1, 2027.

Legal Context

The persistent vandalism of parking meters highlights the limitations of using Class C felony charges to deter theft against public infrastructure. This case illustrates a broader trend where municipalities move toward digital-only payments to reduce the risk associated with physical cash.

Residents should be aware that the city may transition to a cashless payment system for parking by early 2027 to curb further damage. This change would require drivers to utilize digital payment options instead of coins when parking in public spaces.

The takeaway

The high cost of maintaining physical coin collection in the face of widespread theft has made cash-based parking meters increasingly unsustainable for the city. Residents should prepare for a potential shift to digital-only payment methods by the start of next year.