News

Detectives say a string of late summer thefts from a trading card vending machine in San Marcos ended with an arrest and a stack of recovered merchandise. According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Weston Strawn was taken into custody outside his apartment after investigators served a search warrant at a residence and detached garage on the 400 block of Smilax Road.

The case centered on a machine in the 1200 block of West Mission Road that dispenses sports cards and memorabilia. Deputies allege the machine was hit twice and left with extensive damage. During the search, detectives say they found the stolen cards and additional property tied to a separate theft investigation. The recovered items were valued at about $4,500.

Strawn was booked into the Vista Jail on suspicion of grand theft. A separate summary from Patch notes he was booked on three grand theft counts linked to the incidents. Local outlets that picked up the sheriff’s announcement reported the arrest occurred as Strawn was walking to his vehicle.

Neighborhood coverage from NBC 7 and other stations echoed the department’s account and highlighted that the investigation stretched across more than one reported theft. CBS 8 also shared surveillance footage in the wake of the arrest, underscoring how targeted these machines can be when stocked with high-demand cards.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact the San Marcos Station; the sheriff’s news release lists Sergeant Agustin Rosas as the point of contact.