Robbers Pry Open Vending Machine

Phillip Dover, 55, of Skokie and Charles E. Meyers, 46, of North Austin Avenue, Chicago, were charged with possession of burglary tools, a felony, as well as theft from coin machine and criminal damage to property.

Police responded to a call reporting two men tampering with a soda vending machine at a gas station in the 7300 block of Waukegan Road on July 11, just before 2:40 a.m. They said they saw both Meyers and Dover in the parking lot on the west side of the gas station, on the side where the vending machine is located. Their vehicle was parked in a way that obscured the view of the vending machine from Milwaukee Avenue. The location is right across the street from the Niles Police station parking lot.

Police said Meyers was pacing back and forth and complaining he was having car troubles. The officer looked at the vending machine and saw the slot had been pried open wide enough so that dollar bills were visible. 

Police said they took Meyers and Dover into custody in a squad car when a witness walked over from across the street, identified himself as an off-duty Chicago police officer and said that he had stepped outside a bar to have a cigarette and heard a loud crunching noise, according to the report. The witness said he observed Meyers and Dover taking turns using a pry bar to pry open the cash slot on the machine, police said. He reported he observed Dover walking over to Milwaukee Avenue as if looking out; later, police discovered the broken-off face of the vending machine at the place where the witness said Dover had walked to, according to police.

Niles police said they observed several burglary tools, including a pry bar, tire iron, several screw drivers, pry rod, channel locks, and two barbecue forks, inside the men's vehicle. Police contacted the owner of the vending machine, who sent someone to secure the machine. The owner said he would press charges.

Woman charged with traffic offenses

Michelle Barkman, 38, of Park Ridge, was charged with driving with a suspended license July 12 just before 11:40 p.m. when police stopped her in the 6800 block of Touhy after observing that her vehicle registration had been expired since March, they said. A database check with the Secretary of State's office revealed her license was suspended, according to the report. She was also cited for possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia, expired registration and unlawful use of a license.

Information is taken from reports.

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