Three men – believed to be City of Melbourne contractors – have been charged over a city parking meter swindle.

As much as $500,000 in coins was stolen from the parking meters over a number of months, according to The Herald Sun.

A 48-year-old Point Cook man, a 49-year-old man from Fitzroy and a 20-year-old from Burnside have been bailed to return to court in March next year.