SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sometimes the equipment you purchase can pay off — in a big way. Other times, someone else’s equipment comes in handy.An Arizona operator used his surveillance system to stop a couple of men who he believed were “up to no good,” according to the Scottsdale Tribune.Adrian Notaro, the owner, was at his home in the evening watching video surveillance on his laptop computer when he noticed a man looking at his vending machines before another man broke into one.Notaro called 911, and within about two minutes, the police pulled up behind the men’s car as they were fleeing the laundry after they stole about $30 from an arcade-game machine and a vending machine, according to the police.The men were arrested on suspicion of burglary. Notaro believes about $30 in damage was done to the vender. Notra says that he had been reviewing the surveillance video more closely after a break-in at the laundry last Thanksgiving that caused about $1,000 damage to the vender.In Pennsylvania, two men were charged with burglary, conspiracy, criminal mischief, and theft after trashing a coin laundry and causing about $15,000 in damage.There was damage to 10 dryers, a changer, a detergent dispenser and two soda venders, police say. A pick was used on the changer and detergent machine, and was also used to “beat” the dryers, according to the police. About $60 in change was taken from the laundry.The owner called the police after discovering the damage. The two men also broke into a separate part of the building, according to the police, and destroyed a surveillance camera.However, an outdoor camera posted on a neighboring business captured the men’s images. The men were questioned, and have admitted to damaging the business, police say.The moral of this story: If a neighboring business has an outdoor camera, you might want to check with the owner to see if it covers the front of your laundry. You never know when that might come in handy.
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