Roman police have arrested four cleaners caught in possession of coins worth 1,200 euros (£807) from the Italian capital's Trevi Fountain.

They were working for a firm which regularly cleans out the famous fountain where coins worth 2,000 euros are tossed by visitors each week.

Some of the proceeds go to good causes and it was a charity which raised the alarm when the coins took a sharp dip.

Police fear the actual sum stolen in recent weeks is around 110,000 euros.

They mounted a lengthy surveillance operation before pouncing on the suspected thieves, said to all be Italians aged between 18 and 50.

The Trevi, a Roman landmark since the 18th century, was popularised by films such as Three Coins In The Fountain and la Dolce Vita.

Tradition holds that by turning away from the fountain and tossing a coin over your shoulder into the water, it will bring you back to Rome eventually.

A judge cleared a woman accused of stealing from the fountain in 2003 on the grounds that the money had been discarded and had no rightful owner.
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Wow... that's quite a lot of coins per a day and to take.

I just wondered how much these ladies got paid? Its possible their weekly pay is only 20 euro's, so the fact that theres a years pay in the fountain thrown in by the wealthy on a weekly basis, would be very hard for them to ignore?

Its a crime to take coins out of fountains? I thought it was just nearly impossible without making yourself look stupid.