GLENDALE : City Employee Arrested in Thefts

A city employee who repaired police radios has been booked on suspicion of burglary and grand theft for allegedly stealing $50,000 worth of the equipment and hoarding it in his Pasadena home, authorities said Friday.

Gerald Darby Jr., 42, was arrested after the manager at the city’s Communications Services Section noticed a pattern of thefts from the Civic Center complex, said Chahe Keuroghelian, Glendale police spokesperson.

Darby has been released on his own recognizance. An arraignment date has not yet been set.

Darby, who fixed radios for many city divisions, including code enforcement, fire, sanitation and public works, was taken into custody Thursday after police served a search warrant at his home.

City property seized from Darby’s residence included 35-millimeter and video cameras, computers and radio equipment, Keuroghelian said.

After a monthlong investigation, officials concluded that Darby had taken the equipment from the city’s communications facility over a seven-year period, police said. Authorities are unsureif they have recovered all of the equipment allegedl taken from the communications cneter, Keuroghelian said.

An investigation is ongoing to determine if other parties were involved in the thefts, police said.