Ridgewood Officials: Thomas Rica May Have Had Help Stealing From Parking Meters

Village officials believe ex-Public Works Inspector Thomas Rica, who admitted to stealing $460,000 in parking meter quarters, may have had help after a forensic audit shows “an additional $340,000 in quarters was stolen during the same time frame,” NorthJersey.com reports.

“The auditor’s conclusion is very disturbing and raises serious questions concerning the scope and method of the crime or crimes that have been committed against the Village,” said a statement from Ridgewood. “Most notably, it raises the question as to whether other people also participated in this theft against the Village, acting independently or in cooperation with Mr. Rica.”

Rica, who worked for Ridgewood since 2004, admitted stealing quarters retrieved from parking meters and stored at Village Hall after “an employee noticed that coins appeared to be missing from the room,” police told Patch.

“The investigation revealed that the room had been entered numerous times by an employee that was not authorized to be in the room.”

Rica plead guilty last year and was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to pay $460,000 back to the Village, according to NJ.com.

NorthJersey.com reports that officials are contemplating having Ridgewood Police start an investigation.