Pair tampered with station ticket machines Metro thieves caught in act stealing coins
THESE two hapless thieves were caught in the act trying to steal Metro customers’ change by tampering with ticket machines.
Lee Fox and Daniel Hester used paper or card to block coin slots in the machines and then disappeared from view as unsuspecting passengers put money inside.
Believing their cash had become jammed, the customers would then leave, only for Hester and Fox to return, remove the blockage and pocket the cash, a court heard.
But their scam didn’t last long as they were caught in the act targeting three machines by Nexus staff who had been watching on CCTV.
Now, Fox, 30, of Saville Street West, North Shields, and Hester, 35, of Saville Street, North Shields, have both been given community orders after they pleaded guilty to three counts each of attempted theft from a machine.
Keith Laidlaw, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, said the pair had tampered with three machines on the same day on February 2 this year.
He added: “They put card in the machines, so the money can’t go all the way down, so there’s a build-up in the slot of coins.
“People who put the money in, walk away as they think the coins are stuck, The defendants then come back and retrieve the money.”
John Kirkham, representing both men, said the idea had been sug- gested to them by another male and the offence was not sophisticated.
The solicitor added: “They put a bit of card or paper in the machine, go away, come back and see what that reveals. They come back and they are confronted by Metro staff.”
The court was told both men were unemployed, had mental health difficulties and had been struggling financially.
Addressing District Judge Kate Meek, Hester added: “I didn’t even know I was supposed to be in court today. I came to support my friend Lee and then I saw my own name on the list. Until that point, I didn’t even realise I was up.”
Fox was given a community order, with a four week curfew from 8pm until 7am, while Hester, who has a similar conviction from earlier in the year, was given a nine-month community order, with 10 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.