Columbia man accused of smashing gambling machines in Cooper and Callaway counties

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County deputies have arrested a Columbia man accused of stealing from gambling machines at convenience stores in Cooper and Callaway counties.

Andrew J. Poelker, 34, was charged in Callaway County with two counts of stealing and two counts of property damage. He's also charged with first-degree robbery in Cooper County.

Boone County deputies arrested him Saturday during a traffic stop, the Cooper County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook.

Poelker entered a gas station in Callaway County on July 22 and smashed the machines, according to a probable cause statement. Witnesses said they were cleaning in the back room when they heard smashing from the arcade area and saw Poelker smashing four gambling machines and taking the cashboxes from them, the statement says.

The casino machines cost an estimated $6,000 to replace and a total of $328 was stolen, investigators say.

Probable cause statements say Poelker entered a gas station in Cooper County on Saturday and used a sledgehammer to break into a "No chance money machine." The sheriff's office said it heard from other local agencies that reported similar crimes, leading to Poelker's arrest the same day in Boone County.

Poelker's bond is set at $100,000.