Arrest Warrant Issued for Alleged Coin-Changing Machine Robber

An Indiana man whose carved out a criminal niche by stealing changing from coin-cashing machines in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee, is wanted for a similar crime in Oak Forest, prosecutors said.

Oak Forest police were in court Tuesday requesting an arrest warrant for Michael Thompson, 47, who they said is currently incarcerated in the Tippecanoe County, IN jail.

The detective testified that around 6 p.m. Feb. 14, Thompson broke into the Coinstar machine located inside the Food4Less store at 5556 W. 159th St., Oak Forest. Thompson is alleged to have gotten away with $517 in change.

According to police, Thompson, of Lafayette, IN, has robbed coin-cashing machines in other states. Thompson was identified in the Oak Forest theft by a witness in a photo lineup and on store surveillance video.

The judge granted a $25,000 arrest warrant.