Police have arrested a 31-year-old man from Farmington, New Mexico for stealing his employer's silver - bit by bit over several years.

Jadyn Earl John Sessing, an assistant day manager at Cooperative Plating blames his gambling habit for why he has been stealing silver since 2004. He now stands charged with seven counts of felony theft in Ramsey County District Court.

AP reports that the company noticed the missing metal immediately, but thought the problem stemmed from equipment failure. However, when the thefts grew in number, the company ordered investigation into the problem.

Sessing's attorney, who has acknowledged his client has a gambling problem, said, "He's a married man with two children who had a good job. Only an addiction makes this understandable."