FORT SMITH, Ark.—
Police in the River Valley are expanding their search for two vending machine vandals, after new surveillance video showed them breaking open a Pepsi machine in Oklahoma."He's hit about thirty of my machines alone, he has got me for about $2500 now, just in cash," said Gerry Firestine, who owns Arkahoma Price Right Vending and provided the new footage to 5NEWS. "After getting so many of them hit, it starts putting a hurt on the business."
Besides the money he's lost, Firestine is also out more than twice that amount repairing the machines, replacing parts that were damaged, destroyed, or taken during the robbery. And with business already tight because of the economy, these thefts are hitting Firestine harder than usual.
Investigators say that the vandals have been hitting vending machines in Oklahoma, Fort Smith, and Van Buren off and on for the last three months, even going back to hit machines that they had already robbed once before.
"I've had two or three places where he's come back four times," said Firestine.
The same thieves were spotted on surveillance video from a Fort Smith hotel featured on Crimestoppers several weeks ago. In it, a man and woman with similar features and wearing the same clothes break into a vending machine, taking the coin- and bill-collecting devices from inside with them.
"I think the investigator described it almost exactly as the suspects in Fort Smith, so if we can get these people identified we'll be on the road to getting warrants for them and getting them arrested," said Sergeant Levi Risley with the Fort Smith Police Department.
Surveillance video given to 5NEWS also provides a good look at the van used by the thieves to make their getaway. Police say they might be able to pick out a number from the license plate by enhancing the video, putting them another step toward identifying the thieves, and arresting them.
If you have any information about this case, please call the River Valley Crimestoppers line at 78-CRIME. You will remain anonymous, and could be eligible for a cash reward.
