Stolen cash allegedly used to pay fine

INYOKERN, Calif., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Police in Inyokern, Calif., say five men were charged with stealing up to $8,000 from the walls of a restaurant after one used the bills to pay a court fine.

Investigators said one of the alleged thieves used 10 bills, which had been marked by Homestead customers before being tacked to the restaurant's wall, to pay a fine and the money was recognized by a clerk, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

Police said they have recovered about $1,000 of the money that once decorated the walls of the Homestead.

"Part of the place's charm was all the old bills, all the memories," said Michael Scott, senior deputy in the Kern County sheriff's office. "Everybody in town knew exactly where they came from."

Officers said one of the alleged thieves also was found to have Homestead thumbtacks stuck in the sole of one of his shoes.