Two Suspects Apprehended for Stealing Coin Machine in Saipan

Northern Marianas police have apprehended two suspects in the theft of a coin machine in Saipan last month.

Northern Marianas police have apprehended two suspects in the theft of a coin machine in Saipan last month.

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) arrested two men, aged 33 and 32, for the 28 August heist of rather hefty and heavy coin machines at Fresh Laundry in San Vicente, Saipan.

The two are now facing charges of theft and burglary with a US$10,000 bail for each man.

They are set to reappear before the court for a preliminary hearing on 2 October, and on 7 October for arraignment.

According to court documents, on 28 August around 8:20am, DPS officers were dispatched to a reported theft incident at Fresh Laundry located in San Vicente.

When officers arrived, they met with the owner and victim who reported that a coin machine for his laundry was stolen.

The victim said that morning around 7am, he discovered that his coin machine was missing and upon reviewing surveillance footage, he discovered that someone stole it.

The surveillance footage showed around 3:20am, a red-colored sedan parked at the entrance of Fresh Laundry and an individual wearing full clothing covering his face entered the laundry and walked toward the back, took the coin machine, placed it into the sedan and left.

The owner estimated the coin machine to have from $1500 to $2000 because he last checked it on 25 August and saw it was almost full. According to the owner the coin machine can hold up to about $3,000 when full.

Police reviewed the surveillance footage.