STRATEGIC PARTNERS
February 10, 2002
PHILADELPHIA -- A couple who made off with more than $35,000 when an ATM began spitting out $100 bills called police and returned some of the money, but more than half was still missing, according to an Associated Press report.
Authorities said they are considering theft charges against Willie and Tawanda Anderson, who told police they went on a spending spree, gave cash to friends and bought gifts for their five children.
Police found bottles of champagne and cases of beer when they went to the house of Willie Anderson's mother to retrieve some of the money from under a mattress.
On Feb. 8, the couple took their $2,200 IRS refund check to H&R Block, which operates a machine that cashes refund checks prepared by the company.
Instead of dispensing $2,200, the machine spit out $100 bills until an employee shut off the power, $72,000 later. Police said the Andersons scooped up wads of bills and took off with about $35,500.
