Band Of Thieves Expands Range

Last year, I reported about the possibility of gumball machines being used to poison people in NJ, then about a gumball machine being stolen in Texas. It appears the thieves are recruiting members in additional states. This was reported in January in Bismarck, ND.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) You might say Bismarck Police have something to chew on. They report someone stole a $595 gumball machine from a Dan's Supermarket store. Lt. Randy Ziegler said the theft was reported Friday after the vendor discovered it missing. Also stolen were a $11.95 sign, $65.10 in gumballs and $212.50 in change. Ziegler says surveillance tapes show a man about 20 years old in a black hooded sweatshirt putting the machine in a gray passenger vehicle and driving off. Information from: Bismarck Tribune, http://www.bismarcktribune.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 01-27-09 0757CST

Remember my post in June about the gumball machines? Well, a couple weeks after that article was published, there was one in the Dallas Morning News that Ladystyx and her cohorts stole one! Oh ok, maybe she didn't actually DO it, but she could have been the mastermind! LOL


From Staff Reports

Burleson police were investigating a burglary in which a gumball machine was stolen from a Jeep Outfitter store last week.

Police said the incident occurred the evening of Oct. 15 in the 2000 block of Interstate 35W. Police said it appeared that a person entered the store trying to steal computer equipment, but instead left with a gumball machine, belonging to a charity.

When police arrived, they discovered a broken glass door and smashed computer equipment on the floor.

Police said as many as three people in a dark-colored SUV may have been involved in the incident. Surveillance video show a man in his late teens or early 20s wearing a blue baseball cap, a black T-shirt and tan cargo shorts. The driver was described as wearing a yellow T-shirt. A description of the third person was not available.

Police said this incident may be connected to another burglary at the business two weeks earlier. In that incident, money was stolen from a drawer.

Anyone with any information was asked to call police at 817-447-5300, extension 333, to speak with an investigator.

This is a bit outdated, but I still thought it was weird enough to make you shake your head wondering what goes through the minds of some people.


Aldermen fear terrorists could poison gumball machines

by South Jersey News Online
Thursday October 11, 2007, 7:56 AM

DOVER, N.J. (AP) -- Fear that terrorists could poison children has led three Dover aldermen to begin inspecting gumball machines.

They've surveyed 103 machines in the Morris County town and expect to report their results on New Year's Day.

Aldermen Frank Poolas, Jack Delaney and Michael Picciallo have found 100 unlicensed machines filled with gumballs, jawbreakers and other candies. The three feel they're ripe for terrorists to lace with poisoned products.

Police Chief Harold "Butch" Valentine tells The Star-Ledger of Newark the odds are a person would win the lottery before terrorists would use the machines to launch an attack.

Delaney says their goal is to create a registration process to find out where the candy is coming from.