Charges: Man Used Shop Vac To Steal Quarters From Laundry Machine

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 38-year-old New Brighton man is facing charges for allegedly using a vacuum to suck money out of a laundry machine at a Fridley apartment complex, according to charges filed in Anoka County Court.

Scott Michael Teed was charged with one count of second-degree burglary and one count of possessing burglary or theft tools in connection with the incident.

According to a complaint, Fridley police were called at about 11 a.m. Sunday to an apartment complex at 7845 East River Road on a theft report. When officers arrived, a tenant told them he was in the third floor laundry area of the complex and saw Teed standing next to a machine.

The complaint states the tenant told police Teed had a Shop Vac attached to the machine and was sucking money out of it. The tenant asked Teed what he was doing, and Teed said he was fixing the machine. The tenant said he was going to call police, grabbed Teed to hold him until they arrived but he pushed the tenant to the floor before leaving.

Police were already outside the complex waiting for Teed and arrested him as he was about to get into his car. He had a screwdriver in his pants pocket, a lock pick in another pant pocket, a pry tool and a Shop Vac with hundreds of quarters inside.

The complaint states the apartment manager told police Teed did not live there and had no permission to be there. The manager also said all the outside doors are locked and he wouldn't have access without picking alock.

If convicted, Teed faces up to 13 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.