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SALT LAKE CITY — Late Sunday night, officers arrested a man who allegedly broke into a change machine using a grinder.
At 11:36 p.m., officers were dispatched to Sugarhouse Laundry at 1962 S. 100 East on reports of a theft taking place. Upon entry of the laundromat, they noticed sparks coming from behind the change machine, according to Salt Lake City Police Department.
Officers found Michael Vestal, 53, had accessed the back of the machine through a shallow HVAC vent and was using a grinder to break it open, causing the sparks officers observed, detective Greg Wilkings said.
Vestal had made a large hole in the back of the machine and removed wiring, the department reported. He had not yet accessed the change area when officers arrived, Wilkings said.
Vestal was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on investigation of burglary.
Estimated damage to the machine was about $2,000, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office said in a probable cause statement.
