OBSERVANT CITIZEN ALERTS POLICE TO VENDING MACHINE THEFT

In the early morning hours of July 20, 2010, at approximately 6 a.m., an alert citizen flagged down an Ocean City Police Officer to report suspicious activity involving a person around a vending machine located near the Garden of Eden Mini-Golf-Course (18th Street and Coastal Highway). The witness related that a male subject was attempting to break into the vending machine using a large pry bar.

As a result of the information obtained from the witness about the suspects and the vehicle, police began to search for the car and the persons involved in the theft from the vending machine.

At about 7 a.m. officers located a vehicle matching the description previously provided by the citizen. Police stopped the vehicle described as a Chevrolet Venture mini van with a Pennsylvania registration. During the on-scene investigation police recovered the pry bar and a large amount of currency in $1 bills. The suspects identified as: Scott Michael Dease, 45, of West Lawn, Pennsylvania, and Billi Sue Holmes, 40, of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, were positively identified by a witness and subsequently arrested.

Dease has been charged with: 2nd Degree Burglary, 4th Degree Burglary, 4th Degree Burglary & Theft, and 4th Degree Burglary with tools, Malicious Destruction of Property Under $500, Attempted Theft Under $500 and Possession of CDS Paraphernalia.

Holmes has been charged with - 2nd Degree Burglary, 4th Degree Burglary, 4th Degree Burglary & Theft, and 4th Degree Burglary Permitting the Use of Tools, 4th Degree Burglary with Tools, Malicious Destruction of Property Under $500, Attempted Theft Under $500, Possession of CDS Paraphernalia, Possession of a Concealed Deadly Weapon and Possession of CDS (not marijuana).

Holmes and Dease are being held at the Ocean City Police Department pending an initial appearance with an Ocean City District Court Commissioner.

Ocean City Police detectives are continuing to investigate this case as it may be related to previous and/or additional vending machine thefts in the Ocean City area.

If anyone has any additional information regarding this case, please contact the OCPD Criminal Investigation Division at: 410-723-6604.