Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Va. Repairman Swiped $170K From Meters

William Fell made off with a sixth of city's total meter revenue

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 22, 2009 1:02 PM CDT

(Newser) – A repairman stole $170,000 in coins from parking meters in Alexandria, Va., during the past 12 months, the Washington Post reports. William Fell, 61, looted meters in the early hours of the morning before his maintenance shifts, police say. Wary of depositing his ill-gotten gains, Fell kept the coins his house, where police recovered them in an April 15 raid.

Fell, who had worked for the city for 16 years, was discovered because of the size of his theft—total revenue for Alexandria parking meters is only about $1 million a year. Officials were alerted to the crime when a hike in meter fees didn’t produce the expected revenue bump. Fell faces two counts of embezzlement by a public officer.

An Alexandria parking meter repairman managed to steal $170,000 in coins in a little under a year.
An Alexandria parking meter repairman managed to steal $170,000 in coins in a little under a year.   (Shutterstock)
That a hike in parking-meter fees wasn't increasing revenue tipped off officials to the crime.
That a hike in parking-meter fees wasn't increasing revenue tipped off officials to the crime.   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Caps
Apr 23, 2009 3:59 AM CDT
I bet his pockets were jingling.

More Newser Stories

Church Bookkeeper Accused of Stealing More Than $1M

Mother and 4 Kids Killed in Iowa Home

Southwest Faces Record Fines

Cops Bust Two-Bit Thief With 123 Parking Meters


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne