Mint Worker Takes Home $500.00 a Day

[#juan]

CBC News World

Mint worker gets booted to prison for walking away with coins
Last Updated Wed, 21 Jun 2006 10:51:47 EDT
CBC News

An Australian mint worker was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday for stealing 500 kilograms of coins over a 10-month period by hiding them in his boots and lunch box.

William Grzeskowiak, 48, pleaded guilty to stealing the coins, valued at more than $110,000.

Grzeskowiak began stealing from his country's national mint after an argument with his boss, court heard.

He would take the coins off the production line and put them into his pockets. Grzeskowiak would then transfer the coins — totalling just less than $500 a day — to his boots or lunch box in a bathroom stall.

Police recovered all but $4,000 of the coins in buckets and bags at Grzeskowiak's mother's garage.

He said he did not steal the money to spend it, but simply liked the challenge and enjoyed the sense of empowerment he felt by carrying out the crime.

Judge Terry Connolly slammed the mint's lack of security.

"I find it hard to believe that 150 coins could be concealed in each boot and a person could still walk through the security system," he told the court Wednesday.

Grzeskowiak was sentenced to a minimum of 18 months in prison before becoming eligible for parole. He was ordered to repay the missing money.

It will be interesting to see what new security measures are adapted. Will everyone be forced to come to work, and leave barefoot? Or carry their lunch in a clear plastic bag?

 

[Colpy]

The simplest solution is one used in money- counting rooms in my industry......uniforms with no pockets. And, of course, cameras everywhere.......although if someone is determined to steal, they will find a way.

 

[iamcanadian]

What a difference between sentencing in Australia and Canada. Are we not both similar countries with our laws and Judicial Systems?

In Canada he would have gotten 10 weeks of public speaking engagements and moved to another government department job where he would slip back into obscurity.

 

[#juan]

Re: RE: Mint Worker Takes Home $500.00 a Day

What a difference between sentencing in Australia and Canada. Are we not both similar countries with our laws and Judicial Systems?

In Canada he would have gotten 10 weeks of public speaking engagements and moved to another government department job where he would slip back into obscurity.

Maybe not. He did steal a hundred and ten thousand dollars. I doubt if a man did the same crime in Canada he would ever get back into the public service. He probably would have received a similar sentence but because it took three years to finish the trial, he would have walked with time served.