North Carolina man charged with stealing coins from vending machines in Stuart

STUART — A man accused of using tape and fishing line affixed to $5 and $10 bills to steal coins from vending machines has been arrested, according to a Martin County Sheriff's Office report released Monday and a sheriff's spokeswoman.

Mitchell Dale Murphy, 51, of Indian Trail, N.C., is facing three misdemeanor charges, including two counts of manufacturing slugs for coin-operated devices and a single theft charge in connection with the Saturday night incidents.

A deputy went to Sparkle Plenty Car Wash in the 5200 block of Southeast Federal Highway after the owner reported a person was "manipulating the coin change machines," a report states.

The deputy saw a man later identified as Murphy removing a $10 bill from a vending machine slot. The $10 bill had tape and fishing line attached to it.

"You got me boss," Murphy is quoted as saying.

A deputy recovered a modified $10 bill and a modified $5 bill from Murphy.

Murphy's 44-year-old wife had been standing next to a 2001 Chevrolet, though Murphy said she didn't take part in any criminal activity. The wife said she knew about her husband's activities but didn't participate.

Investigators found a bucket of quarters and another modified $10 bill in the vehicle. Murphy and his wife said the more than $275 in quarters had been stolen from the vending machine.

Murphy was released Sunday from the Martin County jail on $2,000 bond, a sheriff's spokeswoman said Monday.