A man has been charged by police with allegedly stealing coins from a fountain in Dundee’s City Square.
Radions Hrapcenkovs, 35, of no fixed abode, was also allegedly found with a magnet attached to a wire and a host of other implements.
It is claimed that this inferred that he was planning to commit thefts in the area.
Hrapcenkovs appeared in private at the city’s sheriff court.
He made no plea or declaration in relation to three charges on petition.
He is charged with finding a quantity of coins and stealing them without attempting to find the true owner, at City Square, on Tuesday.
He is further charged with having a magnet on a wire, five screwdrivers, scissors, two spanners and a knife in his possession, inferring that he had committed theft or that he intended to commit theft, at Commercial Street, on the same date.
It’s also claimed that he was unable to demonstrate the tools were not for committing theft.
He is also charged with having a knife in a public place without reasonable excuse or lawful authority, at the same location and on the same date.
The case was continued for further inquires and Hrapcenkovs was remanded meantime.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed that a 35-year-old man has been charged and that a report had been sent to the procurator fiscal.
There are two separate fountains located in City Square and people throw loose change into them.
The coins that amass in the fountains’ pools are periodically cleared by Dundee City Council.
After the monies have been collected, the local authority then distributes the funds to a number of charitable organisations around the city.
Lord Provost Bob Duncan said he hadn’t been aware of the alleged incident but was surprised at the claims.
He said that all of the coins retrieved from the pool are donated to worthwhile causes after being cleaned.
He added: “The money that is collected in the fountains doesn’t go into council funds.
“It is donated directly to charities around the city.
“All the money collected there is donated to registered charities who really need it to do their work — as with all the charitable contributions that Dundee City Council makes.”
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