Woman Charged With Felony After Vending Machine Break-In: Sheriff

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — An Iredell County woman was charged with a felony after she was spotted breaking into a vending machine in the middle of the night, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a ICSO report, a witness spotted the woman — who has been identified by authorities as Melissa Ann Brown, 37, of Statesville — breaking into a vending machine located outside James River Equipment, located at 635 Mocksville Highway in Statesville shortly before 3 a.m. on Sept. 21.

The witness called 911 to report the crime, and gave a description of Brown’s car and the direction in which she was traveling.

A deputy in the area spotted Brown’s burgundy Kia sport utility vehicle on Salisbury Highway and followed Brown as she pulled into the parking lot of a Sheetz convenience store. Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and questioned Brown, who “made a statement about her involvement with the drink machine,” the ICSO report said.

“Brown then handed a small pry bar which was used to break in the drink box to the deputies,” the sheriff’s office statement said.

Brown, who has a previous conviction for breaking into a vending machine, was taken into custody and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where she was charged with felony breaking and entering of a coin operated vending machine. Her secured bond was set at $5,000.