By Nicole Back - Staff Writer
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.
