Owners of ice machines in several Southern states formed a Facebook group during a recent outbreak of thefts from their machines - that occurred mainly in the middle of the night.
The owners shared videos and surveillance photos to try to catch the ice machine burglar who, it appeared, started at Chattanooga and headed through Georgia for Florida.
John Thomas Steiner Jr., 47, was arrested recently in Wakulla County, Fla. He is being held there on a $13,000 bond and is facing charges in four states.
The thefts included break-ins at ice machines in Fort Oglethorpe and Collegedale.
Steiner at one time owned some ice machines. He apparently was able to pinpoint locations of ice machines across the South by checking an Internet site.
The last entry on the Facebook site is from Jeanette Pierzina Hopkins on Sept. 6. It says, "Got him! Tuesday night in walulla county, FL.. Same guy, different vehicle."
Steiner is a former Ruby Falls manager and the son of the late Ruby Falls owner Jack Steiner. He was also in the restaurant business at one time.
When he was arrested he was found with an electric saw that was used to drill into the machines. He also had a large amount of coins in his vehicle.
Arresting officers charged Steiner with criminal mischief, burglary, possession of burglary tools and grand theft.