Destructive Bandit on the Run

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. - November 15, 2006 -- Detectives in New Jersey are trying to track down a coin bandit who has caused several thousands of dollars in damage all to nab some change.

Police say the man has struck several times, hitting businesses along the Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township. They say he busts coin-operated machines open, usually between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.

"Unfortunately he's getting a little bit of cash but causing a lot of damage," said Marc Romantino of the Egg Harbor Township Police Department.

Officials say he's getting less than $100 in each of the robberies, but is causing damage to the machines that is in the neighborhood of $2,000 per machine. "He's working pretty hard for a little bit of cash," Romantino said. In the instance released by police today which you can see in the video on demand player to the right, video shows him spending about 15 minutes trying to pry open a vacuum cleaner at a car wash.

Also, investigators say, in some instances, the suspect then goes back and spray paints the damaged machines, apparently in order to cover up his finger prints.

(Copyright 2006 by 6abc and Action News. All rights reserved.)

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