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Man caught on video taking gumball machine from Utah hospital

Posted at 4:44 PM, May 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-15 21:03:14-04

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — Police are on the lookout for a gumball bandit.

Surveillance video caught a man driving up to the front window of the Copper View Medical Center early Monday morning.

The footage shows the suspect getting out of his car, smashing a window, and then pulling the giant gumball machine out of the lobby.  That was the only item the person took.

Dr. Mary Tipton of Copper View Medical Center said the machine is worth about $1,000. Many of her pediatric patients are upset that it is gone.

“We had a toddler in here yesterday who kept coming up to the front desk, almost in tears,” Tipton said.

The child repeatedly asked, “Who did that?” Tipton recalled.

The machine has sat in the same place in the medical center’s waiting room since the practice opened nearly two decades ago.

Doctors, staff and patients hope it will be returned so kids can get a reward after their check-up.

The burglary was captured on a surveillance camera at the hospital. (Use the video player above to watch the footage.)

Anyone with information on the crime is urged to call South Jordan Police at 801-253-6300 or use their online crime reporting tool.