Home / Crime and Justice / Sledgehammer Crews Target Video Gambling Machines
Sledgehammer Crews Target Video Gambling Machines
15 Sep
Summary
- Organized crews use sledgehammers to break into businesses for cash.
- Video gambling machines are the primary targets for these smash-and-grab thefts.
- Security foggers and shutters are being installed to deter burglars.
Businesses are implementing new security measures, such as foggers that rapidly fill rooms with dense fog, to deter criminals targeting video gambling machines. This comes as law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to apprehend organized crews responsible for smash-and-grab burglaries. The Chill House in Frankfort experienced a second burglary in just over a month, with masked suspects using sledgehammers to break in and steal cash from the machines.
These burglaries are reportedly carried out by organized crews that operate across county lines, often returning to the city to divide the stolen cash. The cash-only video gambling machines are a lucrative target, with profits split among gaming companies, the state, and business owners. The frequency and precision of these heists suggest a level of expertise among the perpetrators.
A task force comprising over 50 detectives from various law enforcement agencies has been established to investigate these widespread thefts. Meanwhile, businesses like the Chill House are installing interior steel shutters and 24-hour monitoring services. In one instance, a security fogger successfully thwarted a break-in at a Hickory Hills gaming parlor, demonstrating the effectiveness of new deterrent technologies.
