Coin theft at Marietta square fountain

Maybe it's a sign of the economic hard times or just some kids enjoying a prank: someone cleaned out the coins from the fountain on the Marietta square.

It was drained and skimmed of perhaps $10 worth of change, said City Hall spokesman Matthew Daily. He said Tuesday that it happened last week, probably over night, because the square is so crowded during the day.

Should police catch the culprit, the charge would likely be trespassing or misdemeanor theft, said Officer Jennifer Murphy, a police spokeswoman. The haul was likely far below the $500 threshold for a felony, she said, because parks workers routinely scour the fountain to add the tossed coins to the city's treasury.