UPDATE: Gaming Machine Thieves Busted After Latest Attempt in Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Police District- Two Maryland men were taken into custody yesterday, roughly two hours after the latest in a series of gaming machines thefts from area convenience stores.

At 8:55 p.m. on Jan. 24, Fairfax County police officers were dispatched to the 7-Eleven at 8434 Frye Road in the Mount Vernon section of Alexandria. A store employee called saying two men just stole a gaming machine, loading the machine into a silver truck before leaving west on Frye Road.

Officers saturated the area and found a truck matching the description near the 7-Eleven at 8226 Russell Road also in Mount Vernon. The officers stopped the truck, which had a partial tag from a previous bulletin. Officers found parts of a gaming machine in plain view in the truck’s bed. The driver, Leonard Jones, 59, of Maryland, and the passenger, Terrell Hardy, 35, of Maryland were wearing clothes that matched the description of the men seen on surveillance footage stealing the gaming machine from the 7-Eleven on Frye Road.

Both men were taken into custody without incident. Additional evidence was also found inside the vehicle. Detectives responded to the scene to assume the investigation.

Jones was charged with grand larceny, possession of burglarious tools, two counts of destruction of property and petit larceny. Hardy was charged with grand larceny, destruction of property and simple assault. Additional charges are possible, as detectives continue to review evidence in the six previous gaming machine thefts throughout the county.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.    

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