Suspect questioned in machine robberies

PERKINS TWP.

A man police say broke into a Perkins Township soda machine might have done so many more times in Norwalk and Lorain, police in those cities say.

Perkins police have already charged Javier Lopez, 28, of Chino, Calif., with tampering with coin machines, tampering with evidence, vandalism, possessing criminal tools, theft and obstructing official business for allegedly trying to work his way into a Coke machine outside the Discount Drug Mart on Perkins Avenue. Police from Norwalk interviewed him at the Erie County Jail Thursday and have turned over his statements to the city prosecutor. Lorain police will interview Lopez today.

Lorain says Lopez is a suspect in at least 13 machines since Jan. 10 that have been vandalized and robbed, said Lorain police Det. Brian Denman. He estimated whoever robbed the machines could have gotten up to $100 per machine.

"Ours are identical to what (Perkins) experienced last night," Denman said. "Everything matches the same MO."

Perkins officer Tim Alexander said he saw Lopez outside the Drug Mart at about 2:14 a.m. Thursday in front of the machine with a crowbar and a drill, attempting to enter the machine, said Perkins police Lt. Al Matthews.

Alexander drove up to Lopez without any lights on, stopped his car, got out and tried to stop Lopez, who began running. Alexander caught him and arrested him.

Police seized the crowbar and drill. Most of the machines in Lorain had been drilled, Denman said.

Thursday, after Lopez had been taken to jail, Norwalk police interviewed him to see whether he might have been involved in two machine thefts in that city, said Norwalk police Det. Sgt. Todd Temple. Police turned over evidence and statements from Lopez to the Norwalk city prosecutor's office for possible charges, he said.

Lopez was in the Erie County Jail Thursday on $44,800 bond.