After two months of unsolved vending machine robberies on campus, police used security camera footage to identify a suspect who was apprehended during the last week of Christmas break.
Samuel Benjamin, 32, was arrested on Highland Avenue on Jan. 3 with 89 dollar bills, $10.28 in mostly quarters, three brown Jersey gloves, a jar of Vaseline and a bootlace. Coordinator of Special Programs for Campus Police Kevin Langellier said money was the only thing taken from the vending machines.
"We just caught him walking down Highland," Langellier said. "We do have video from the break-ins."
The suspect was described as a black male about 5 feet 9 inches and weighing 220 pounds.
Though Langellier said he did not know the purpose of all of the items found on the suspect, he said he tagged them into evidence anyway.
Police charged Benjamin with theft of property under $500 and vandalism over $1,000. Campus police officer Kevin Langellier said the suspect is charged with one out of 17 robberies but they intend to charge him with more.
According to Langellier, the suspect had an outstanding warrant and an arrest history.
Linda Achee, owner of six of the vandalized machines, said she's been getting robbed since 1998. She said this is the worst occurrence.
"He used a crow bar on most of them," said Achee. "He broke the section where the lock met the machine."
Achee said the repairs to the machines will probably cost $2,000.
Achee plans to continue her business with The University and does not intend to remove her machines from the campus.
"It hasn't shadowed my faith in humankind," Achee said.
According to Achee, students are patient when the machines are removed from the campus for repairing. She said students don't complain.
"I'm really pleased with you guys," she said.
Langellier said there were no injuries during the robberies, and he found no connection with the suspect and The University.
