The man in charge of stocking the vending machines in Rowan and Carter counties’ rest stops suspects the same vandals keep stealing his money.
“This is some pretty heavy duty breaking in,” Dennis Franklin, owner and manager of Franklin Vending, said. “They’re actually twisting the padlocks off the machines. It confounds a locksmith when they’re able to do that.”
In one week, he said vandals stole $677 from soda and snack machines.
“Pepsi has been good about repairing their machines but they’re getting tired of it,” Franklin said.
He has experienced some vandalism during the five years he has owned the company but most of the trouble he has had, has been this year.
Judging by the evidence he has seen, the same people are committing the crime.
“Before it seemed like it was just a roving gang of gypsies and they’d be gone,” Franklin said.
Franklin filed police reports with Kentucky State Police in Morehead and Ashland.
Both cases are under investigation.
Morehead KSP Trooper Ralph Lockard said the last time he saw a case such as this was about 15 years ago. The case was never solved.
This case may be difficult to crack, too. Lockard said these rest areas are located in isolated areas, which makes it hard to catch who is committing the crimes.
“There’s not much they can do after the fact unless we get some information about who’s doing it,” Franklin said.
He said Pepsi is not the only party getting tired of repairing the machines. He is losing money by repairing them. That is why he is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who can give information leading to the arrest and prosecution of who is responsible for the recent break-ins.
“We’ll take whatever measures we have to, to stop it.”
Franklin is asking anyone with information about who is breaking into the Rowan and Carter County rest area vending machines to call him at 502-641-1956.
Local News
Money being stolen from vending machines
- Local News
-
-
Coldiron named state’s outstanding school board member
One of the highlights at the annual conference of the Kentucky School Boards Association is the presentation of the Warren H. Proudfoot Award for Outstanding School Board Member.
-
Eight candidates set to run for City Council
Eight candidates have filed to run for six seats on the Morehead City Council in the November general election.
-
Rarely-used legal motion denied in court
It’s not often that the Rowan Circuit Court must consider a writ of habeas corpus, that constitutional safeguard which protects a prisoner from unlawful detention.
-
MUPB audit shows 5.8 percent increase in revenue
The Morehead Utility Plant Board received a clean audit report last Tuesday during the regular meeting of the board of directors.
-
Morehead woman pleads guilty to incest, sodomy
A Morehead woman pleaded guilty Wednesday in Rowan Circuit Court to five crimes involving the sexual abuse of her young son. Brittany Henson, 22, pleaded guilty to incest, sodomy first degree, promoting a sexual performance by a minor, and possession and distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor.
-
KSP, corrections stage exercise in Clearfield
Residents of KY 519 and McBrayer Road in Clearfield were surprised Thursday morning to find groups of state corrections officers and state police troopers walking through their neighborhoods.
-
Stacy: UPIKE proposal would threaten Rowan economy
There was a decidedly different tone Thursday at the normally-jovial monthly luncheon meeting of the Morehead-Rowan Chamber of Commerce. “If I sound agitated, that’s because I am,” Rep. John Will Stacy said to a roomful of business and civic leaders.
-
Blevins won’t challenge Stivers in new district
After more than 30 years in the Kentucky General Assembly, Sen. Walter Blevins, D-Morehead, knows a politician has to be flexible. The veteran lawmaker did not file this week to run for reelection in the newly-aligned 25th District.
-
Two Rowan schools win Get Fit challenge
Students at Clearfield and McBrayer elementary schools hopped, skipped and jumped their way to a live dance party hosted by Radio Disney. They were among eight Kentucky schools with the highest participation in the Get Active, Get Fit School Challenge.
-
Alleged cyber sexual predator arrested
An alleged online sexual predator was arrested in Morehead yesterday at 1:10 a.m. after he arranged a meeting with what he thought was a 12 year-old female.
- More Local News Headlines
-
