A man has been arrested today after he attempted to steal a skill testing machine at a shopping centre in the northern suburbs. A search of the man's home allegedly uncovered nearly a dozen stolen games or vending machines.
Just before midday on Friday 11 November, police were called to Parabanks Shopping Centre, John Street at Salisbury following reports a man was attempting to steal a skill tester machine.
A witness advised police of a man acting suspiciously near the machine and provided a description of the suspect.
Patrols were quickly on scene and spotted a white van with a hand written number plate in the car park. Checks on the van revealed it had been stolen last week from a Green Fields address.
The driver, a 45-year-old man from Parafield Gardens, was spoken to and following an investigation he was arrested and charged with attempted theft of the machine and illegal use.
A search of the van located a bag of coins and a broken padlock taken from the skill tester machine.
A subsequent search of the arrested man's Parafield Gardens address allegedly uncovered ten vending machines or skill testers. They were seized by police for forensic examination.
The arrested man was refused police bail and will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Monday 14 November.
Investigations are continuing.
