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Vending machine thefts foiled
(by Ashley Beckford - November 13, 2007)
Creativity has its place in many professions, but the criminal profession doesn’t usually come to mind in a list of them. Three men from Maryland proved that it can when they allegedly stole $681.45 from vending machines at the Fairfield Inn in East Rutherford.
Two officers said they observed a male employee pointing to three males in the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn, after receiving a call that three people may have been taking money from vending machines at the hotel. When the officers asked the suspects to stop, the two younger males, Ernest Williams of Lothian, MD and Jason Hendley of Owings, MD, allegedly stopped while the older male, Miles Stout of Owings, MD, allegedly did not.
According to police, Stout attempted to enter his vehicle, at which point, he stooped and dropped a black bag that made the sound of coins when dropped. Police said the officers spoke with the three men, who said they weren’t doing anything. The officers said that they then noticed money and a vending machine key under a vehicle on the ground. The employee confirmed that he allegedly saw the males taking change from the machines.
The officers said that they examined the bag and found a large amount of change, some tools, and a vending ma-chine key. According to police, the key fit at least one of the machines.
The three men were charged with theft and possession of burglar’s tools and remanded to the Bergen County Jail on $10,000 bail with no 10 percent option.
Correction: The three men were charged with theft and possession of burglar’s tools and remanded to the Bergen County Jail on $10,000 bail, but only two of the men were denied the 10 percent option. Miles Stout was granted the 10 percent option.
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