Vending machines vandalized in USU buildings
Two buildings were broken into, and three vending machines had their cash box stolen, between 10 p.m. on Nov. 10 and 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 11, according to a Utah State University Police fact sheet.
Police still do not know how much money was taken because they are waiting for the owner of the machines, KWIK, to report about the case.
Two of the machines are located in the Biology Natural Resources Building, and one in the Technology Building. Lt. Steve Milne, assistant chief of the USU police department, was one of the three officers to respond to the call at the BNR building, along with officers Jon Campbell and Steve Mecham. Milne said there was no sign of products taken from the vending machines.
He also said because of the style of entry into the buildings, in both cases, the burglars entered illegally. Because of how the vending machines were pried open in both cases, Milne said police suspect the burglaries were committed by the same people.
“I don’t see it as a trend on campus,” he said.
The first complaint received concerned the machines on the west side of the BNR building. According to the police, a custodian called USU Police around 4 a.m. to report the crime.
According to the police fact sheet, the complaint about the vending machine in the main doors of the Technology Building was made at 7:30 a.m. by a student.
Milne said the crimes probably were committed around the same time. He said this is not a normal occurrence for USU Police and has been a long time since a vending machine has been broken into on campus. He said police do not expect this will become a usual crime at USU.
Lt. Shane Sessions, responsible for the patrol supervision, said he agrees with Milne that this type of crime will not become a frequent occurrence.
According to the Logan Justice Court, when police locate those responsible for the crime, they can be fined up to $5,000 and spend up to five years in prison.
The consequences of this type of crime are strict because breaking into a business building is a third degree felony.
Since theft is involved, those responsible will also have to pay restitution for the money taken.
According to the court, actual penalties depend on the circumstances of the crime, the judge and the criminal record of the perpetrators.
Milne is the one responsible for the investigation and said police started all the necessary procedures but still do not have a suspect for the crimes.
-acantunes@cc.usu.edu