Cops: Wheeling man stole coins from gumball machine

You know things are bad when someone targets a gumball machine.

That's one of the things police say a Wheeling man was after during a two-week burglary spree this month.

David Martinez, 25, of the 100 block of Wheeling Avenue, is charged with four counts of burglary, attempted burglary and possession of burglary tools in a series of burglaries that prosecutors say took place in Wheeling.

Bond was set at $100,000 for Martinez, who has no criminal record, during a hearing on Wednesday before Judge Joseph Urso.

All the incidents took place between March 9 and 24 at businesses located along Dundee Road in Wheeling, said Assistant State's Attorney Jesse Opdycke. In most cases, Martinez gained access through the roof, Opdycke said.

On March 9, authorities say Martinez took $200 in cash, along with cell phones and a computer from a cell phone store on the first block of Dundee Road.

In addition, they say Martinez took $10,000 in cash from a store on the first block of Dundee on March 12; took coins and a gumball machine from a business on the 500 block of Dundee on March 16; and took $681 in cash from an adjacent business on March 16.

Wheeling police apprehended Martinez on March 24 as he attempted to break into an auto-parts store on the first block of Dundee Road, Opdycke said.

Authorities say some of the stolen property was recovered.

Martinez next appears in court April 17.