Man accused of stealing ATM, taking it home

TACOMA -- A man accused of stealing an ATM from a bingo hall, loading it into his car and driving it home was charged in Pierce County Superior Court Monday, the Tacoma News Tribune reported.

Scott Allan Thorton, 37, pleaded not guilty to first-degree theft following the Jan. 9 incident. He is being held in jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

According to the Tribune, police said Thorton stole the ATM from the second floor of the AMVETS bingo hall on South Tyler Street. Bingo hall workers the noticed the ATM -- worth about $3,000 and holding $2,460 in cash -- was missing from the second floor bar sometime after noon Jan. 9. Just around the time they noticed the ATM was missing, workers allegedly spotted Thorton loading a large object into his van with the help of a dolly and taking off.

Workers reviewed security surveillance camera and identified Thorton lifting the machine and loading it into his car.

Police called to Thorton's home spotted the ATM in recycling bin nearby. Police arrested Thorton Thursday in Tacoma, and he allegedly only told police to "prove it" when confronted about the ATM theft.