WASHINGTON -- A D.C. hot dog vendor was arrested Thursday in Northwest after police said he fed parking meters with something other than money.

Wahid Rafiq, of Alexandria, Va., was arrested following weeks of undercover surveillance outside of the U.S. Department of the Interior, News4's Chris Gordon reported.

Police said the street vendor known as "Mohammad" was paid by drivers to feed their meters while they were at work.

The hot dog stand, which is licensed to Rafiq, was seized by police.

Rafiq allegedly offered employees at the Department of the Interior and construction workers who were modernizing the building a special service where he would feed their parking meters so they wouldn't get a ticket, Gordon reported.

"I've seen him put money in the meters for them," construction worker Don Minor said. "I don't know whose cars ... They'd give him a couple of bucks and he'd put something in the car for them."

The parking enforcement unit of the Department of Transportation noticed that revenue was way down in this block, Gordon reported. Police said the man was using a device like a quarter on a string to put time on meters without using money. The department asked police for help. Officers conducted surveillance using cameras.

"They saw an individual tampering with the meters ... and they placed him under arrest," said police Captain Willie Smith.

Then as the time on parking meters expired and tickets were being written, workers began moving cars, changing places, and parking in spots with a fresh two-hour limit and feeding the meters with quarters, Gordon reported.

The man was taken to 2nd District police headquarters for processing and was then transported for an appearance in court. The hot dog stand was seized as evidence in the case.

"I'm stunned," federal employee Angie Williams said. "He's just the nicest man. He sells hot dogs and sodas. I've never seen him putting money in the meter."

Rafiq was charged with theft of services.

The Department of Transportation and D.C. police are working together to figure out how much money was involved. It could be substantial, Gordon reported.