Son Of Former Ruby Falls Owner Arrested On Charges Of Breaking Into Ice Machines In 4 States

  • Saturday, September 8, 2012

The son of the late Ruby Falls owner Jack Steiner has been arrested in Florida, and authorities said he broke into 59 ice machines in four states.

John Thomas Steiner, Jr. was arrested Tuesday in Wakulla County, Fla., after police said he broke into two ice machines there.

Friends reported that he had recently withdrawn money from bank accounts and disappeared.

He was caught at Crawfordville, Fla., and charged with criminal mischief, burglary, possession of burglary tools and grand theft, according to WCTV, Tallahassee.

Sheriff authorities at Wakulla County said an alarm went off at an automated ice machine at a bait and tackle shop at 2:27 a.m. and Steiner was caught nine minutes later at a second machine at a hardware store.

The station said Steiner's vehicle was stopped by Sgt. Jeremy Johnston, who spotted an electric saw and spare battery inside his vehicle.

Steiner admitted that he was on his way to a third automated ice machine in Panacea at the time of his arrest, the report says.

Police said a large quantity of coins and cash was recovered inside the Steiner vehicle.

Steiner was being held in the Wakulla County Jail under a $13,100 bond.

He is also facing forgery charges in Fort Oglethorpe.

Police said the ice machine break-ins include Fort Oglethorpe and Collegedale.

The trail then led to Monticello, Ga., Decatur, Ala., and several Florida locations, including Chipley, Fla.

Steiner was at one time a manager at Ruby Falls.

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