ST. PAUL, Minn. – A former public works employee yesterday pleaded guilty to stealing more than $34,000 in coins he was collecting from city parking meters and depositing them into his credit union account.
Under a plea agreement, 63-year-old Vincent Schettner agreed to serve up to 90 days in jail and pay restitution of at least $20,000.
The theft apparently was uncovered by tellers at City & County CU, where he regularly brought coffee cans full of coins to several branches and either exchanged the silver for paper or deposited it in his accounts.
Schettner told one teller he collected coins, but after she saw him on the street emptying meters for his job, she tipped an off-duty police officer working at the credit union. Police interviewed four other tellers, who also were suspicious of the meter collector.
Schettner admitted taking the coins over two years by hiding them in his pockets.
