After more than a year of thefts, Bridgeport Police believe they finally have their man as it relates to an ongoing string of burglaries involving vending machines at the Interstate 79. Detective Troy Rutherford said the 29-year-old Jeremy Dean Good of Charleston has been charged with felony destruction of property.

 

Police have been investigating the case since Dec. 20, 2015, which is the first of several incidents took place. Other incidents Rutherford said took place were Dec. 30, 2015; Jan. 4, 2016; Jan. 7, 2016; Jan. 18, 2016; Dec. 12, 2016, and most recently on Feb. 2, 2017.

 

“In the majority of those cases he would hit the vending machines on both sides of the interstate,” said Rutherford. “Each time he would break the vending machine lock; the actual screw lock that secures the machine … pry the machine open, reaching, and grab the cash and coins.”

 

In one of the more recent instances, Rutherford said that the alleged perpetrator made a mistake. And that led to finding Good.

 

“In one of the instances we were able to get a fingerprint from inside the machine in an area where only the custodian in charge of the machine or the suspect involved with breaking into the machines would have left a fingerprint. The print was that of Mr. Good’s and, obviously, Mr. Good does not work there.”

 

The fingerprint was found during a dusting of the machine. Rutherford said it was lifted, photographed and sent to the West Virginia State Police Crime lab. During the processing of the print, it came back on Good, said Rutherford.

 

The print isn’t the only reason that Rutherford said law enforcement believes this is their guy. He said video surveillance also helped out.

 

“There was video surveillance in Lewis County, at the rest areas near Weston, and the gentleman on the video has a tattoo on his left forearm and Mr. Good’s criminal history shows him with a tattoo on his left forearm,” said Rutherford.

 

Thanks to the fingerprint, Good has been sought for some time now. Rutherford said Good was located as he is being held in custody in Charleston on another criminal matter and was previously awaiting court proceedings. Eventually, he will face charges in Harrison County.

 

The damage caused at the I-79 rest areas was listed at $3,285.26. Rutherford said the total does not include the amount of cash taken.

 

According to the West Virginia Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, Good has charges in more than just Harrison and Kanawha counties. He also has charges in Cabell County.