Five Bessemer men have been arrested and charged in connection with a brazen theft of seized bingo machines found in a Lipscomb gambling hall. Authorities say the men were caught on surveillance footage breaking into the hall and stealing the machines, which had been confiscated in a recent raid on an illegal gambling operation in Selma.
The suspects, identified as John Smith, Michael Johnson, Alex Williams, James Brown, and Marcus Davis, were arrested after a quick investigation by the Lipscomb Police Department. Chief of Police, Mark Thompson, praised his officers for their quick response and apprehension of the suspects.
“We take these crimes very seriously and will not tolerate this kind of criminal behavior in our city,” Chief Thompson said in a statement. “The theft of these seized bingo machines is a slap in the face to law enforcement and the community as a whole.”
The stolen machines, which were valued at over $50,000, were recovered by police during a search of the suspects’ homes. In addition to the theft charges, the men are also facing charges of breaking and entering, possession of stolen property, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Authorities believe that the theft was well planned and executed, with the suspects using a van to transport the machines from the gambling hall to their homes in Bessemer. The stolen machines were allegedly going to be resold on the black market for a profit.
“We believe that these men were part of a larger criminal operation involved in the illegal gambling industry,” Chief Thompson said. “We will be working closely with other law enforcement agencies to investigate and dismantle this criminal network.”
The Bessemer men are currently being held in the Lipscomb City Jail awaiting their court hearings. If convicted, they could face significant jail time and fines for their involvement in the theft of the seized bingo machines.
Residents of Lipscomb and surrounding areas are relieved that the stolen machines have been recovered and the suspects apprehended. Many are praising the quick response of the police department in solving the case and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“This kind of brazen criminal activity cannot be tolerated in our community,” said one resident who wished to remain anonymous. “I’m glad that the police were able to catch these guys and recover the stolen machines. It sends a strong message that crime will not be tolerated in Lipscomb.”