Police: DNA leads to ID of duo wanted in vending machine break-ins

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — A husband and wife are wanted for allegedly breaking into numerous vending machines in Whiteville, causing several thousand dollars worth of damage.

Whiteville Police says investigative work and DNA evidence helped the department identify the pair.

From June 2018 through January, police say William Ling and his wife Angela’s crime spree netted them cash from vending machines at Auto Tracks Car Wash, Gurganus Feed and Seed, Go Gas, Hills Supermarket, and Meritt’s Sporting Goods.

WWAY reported on this vending machine thefts in an episode of UNSOLVED back in August.

Whiteville Police Spokesman Alan May says Detective Ron Guyton was able to get a DNA sample from a machine vandalized by the Lings. That sample, along with video surveillance video, led them to obtain 32 warrants.

The Lings are charged with breaking and entering of a coin operated machine, larceny from a coin operated machine, and damage to property.

Alan May says the duo have similar warrants in Brunswick County.

They are believed to be in South Carolina.

If you know any information, you are asked to call Whiteville PD at (910) 642-5111.