‘Gumball Bandit’ Identified as Hudson Valley Man, Police Say

A Hudson Valley man nicknamed the ‘Gumball Bandit’ is in a sticky situation after allegedly stealing over 100 gumball machines in Westchester County and the Bronx.

Jason Bietsch, 39, was arrested in connection with the thefts Thursday morning while visiting his parole officer in White Plains.

Ramon Rivera, manager of the Wash & Dry Laundromat, chased Bietsch after the Scarsdale native allegedly swiped two $350 gumball machines from the Bronx business and ran down the street, according to the New York Daily News:

“He slipped on the ice and so I had enough time to see his license plate,” he said. “It was GUM and four other numbers. I couldn’t believe it. It’s crazy his license plate said GUM.”

Bietsch allegedly stole the machines and resold them to support a drug habit, police told the New York Daily News.

He has been charged with stealing three of the machines, but dozens of cases are still pending.