Money stolen from down-Island vending machines 

On Monday, the Tisbury Police Department created a Facebook post asking for the public’s help in identifying a man suspected of stealing from several down-Island vending machines. According to the post, the suspect is described as a “white male, estimated to be in his 40’s-50’s. Approximately 6 feet tall, 200 lbs. Has a high and tight style haircut.” The suspect has a master key to the machines, and seems to be familiar with how they operate. The suspect seems to be driving a “dark-colored or gray Jeep Grand Cherokee without a front license plate.” In the video, the suspect is seen holding a thick bundle of cash and is wearing gloves. He also appears to look directly into the security camera in the video. According to Tisbury Det. Charlie Duquette, the posted theft footage was taken on August 4 around 4:15 am by the security camera of John’s Fish Market in Vineyard Haven. 

“As of now, the only reported vending machine in Tisbury that has been broken into has been the one at John’s Fish Market. Last year, almost exactly one year from this year’s theft, it appears the same male broke into the vending machine and stole money,” Duquette said in an email. “Last year he stole a total amounting to a few hundred dollars. This year it is still to be determined how much money was taken. The victim empties the cash and coin slots more frequently now due to the previous theft.”

A similar Facebook post was made by the department last year. According to Duquette, it is unclear whether the man is an Islander. Duquette believes the suspect primarily lives off-Island and comes to Martha’s Vineyard in August specifically to rob vending machines. 

Vending machines were also targeted in Oak Bluffs. 

According to Oak Bluffs Lt. Timothy Williamson, the Oak Bluffs Police Department received a call about vending machine theft on August 5. The owner of Giodarno’s Restaurant in Oak Bluffs called saying his three vending machines were emptied of cash. Williamson said the crime seems to have occurred at 2 am, according to the footage he saw from Giordano’s security camera. Williamson said the manager of the Island’s Coca-Cola distributing office was asked if the person in the video was one of his employees. The suspect was not a Coca-Cola employee. 

Williamson also said the Island Inn in Oak Bluffs recently had a set of keys that went missing. The manager of the inn did not recognize the man as an employee or independent contractor either, but they also reported a theft from their vending machines. 

Big Dipper Ice Cream & Cafe and Nancy’s Restaurant also had their vending machines emptied of cash. Neither had footage of the suspect. 

Williamson said around $1,000 was stolen from Oak Bluffs vending machines by the suspect. 

Williamson said while he cannot definitively confirm whether the Oak Bluffs thief and the Tisbury thief are the same person, the possibility is not being ruled out. Both look very similar, having the same kind of car and haircut. 

The Oak Bluffs Police Department also shared the Tisbury Police Department’s Facebook post. 

Both towns’ police departments are collaboratively investigating the crime. 

Those who have information or tips about the suspect can contact Tisbury Det. Charlie Duquette at cduquette@tisburyma.gov. The police can also be informed about the suspect at the Tisbury Police Department at 508-696-4240, the Oak Bluffs Police Department at 508-693-0750, or the Oak Bluffs Police Department’s anonymous tip hotline at 508-696-0303.