An Evansville man believed to be responsible for dozens of vending machine break-ins was taken into custody last night after being observed breaking into an RC Beverage Co machine at Burdette Park.
On January 19, 2018 at approximatly 6:30 PM detectives with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and Evansville Police Department conducted a joint investigation in the area of Burdette Park. Detectives set up surveillance on vending machines in the area due to a rash of recent vending machine break-ins.
During surveillance Mr. Collin Smith was observed drilling out the locking mechanism of a vending machine at Burdette Park. As Mr. Smith left the area detectives inspected the machine and found metal shavings on the ground. They also found the machine’s money bin missing.
Officers followed Mr. Smith after he got into the passenger seat of a waiting SUV. Deputies stopped the vehicle and took Mr. Smith and the driver, Ms. Mandy Saxer, into custody.
During an interview with detectives, Mr. Smith implicated himself in committing approximately 30 thefts from vending machines in Vanderburgh County and the tri-state area over the last year. Local businesses lost over $20,000.00 in damages to the machines as a result of the thefts.
ARRESTED:
Collin Scott Smith (pictured above), 41, Theft with Prior Conviction as a Level 6 Felony, Criminal Mischief as Class A Misdemeanor
Mandy Lee Saxer (pictured above), 40, Theft as a Class A Misdemeanor, Criminal Mischief as a Class A Misdemeanor
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
