News

Scrip machine is poor haul for Houston thieves

January 29, 2004

HOUSTON - Two men were taken into police custody after they crashed into a Harris County gas station and stole a scrip machine early on Jan. 26.

The confusion was understandable, because the tabletop machine had a sign reading "ATM" in large letters with the much smaller words "Cash Ticket" below.

Harris County deputies were on their way to the store to investigate what they thought was an accident when a witness flagged down a Houston police officer and said the reported burglars were headed south on Interstate 45, according to a report on Click2Houston.

Authorities caught up to the car and found what they thought was an ATM in the back seat.

The alleged burglars were taken back to the gas station where officials discovered the store's cash machine was missing.

Police said the two men are being charged with burglary.

Of course, the men would have only gotten away with some candy they pocketed because the machine dispensed scrip vouchers rather than cash.