The Minnesota Gambling Control Board and Department of Public Safety issued a warning following a series of robberies targeting pull-tab dispensing machines.
The authorities advised organizations and retailers to be on alert, noting the increase in illicit activity across the state, while giving specific instructions.
As part of the warning, the agencies urged businesses not to store money in the dispensing machine, other than what is collected in the machine’s cash box. They have also been instructed to remove cash as frequently as possible.
North Star State Regulator Issue a crime alertwith all gambling operators required to report any suspicious activity to the relevant local enforcement agencies.
The continuing pattern of criminals targeting swipe machines
It comes after a major police operation six months ago, when investigators confirmed that eight individuals were linked to more than 30 burglaries in Minnesota, with hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen.
The crime ring specifically targeted businesses in the state that were selling charitable pull tags.
Law enforcement officers explained that the illicit activity was carefully coordinated, with the group believed to have targeted and attacked businesses that kept cash at the site “due to charitable gambling operations,” according to the official criminal complaint seen by ReadWrite.
About 40 different buildings were targeted, over the course of less than a year, with the criminals making off with nearly $200,000.
“The period charged with racketeering in this complaint included 44 second-degree felonies and attempted second-degree burglary and/or theft that occurred between March 6, 2023, and February 22, 2024, including 10 in Hennepin County.” – An official document from the court
Elsewhere in Minnesota, a US District Court sentenced a 37-year-old woman to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for embezzling more than $2.7 million from her employer.
Destiny Makayla Combs She used the money largely to fund her gambling habit, and abused her position as accounting director for a surrogacy agency and its law firm.
“Combs’ scheme was simple: She used personal credit cards to fund her gambling habit, then used company funds to pay her credit card bills,” a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Image credit: Arrow International
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