HAMLET — A man out on bail for allegedly stealing money from a washing machine late last year is accused of doing it again.
Benjamin Keith Benson, 34, of East Rockingham, allegedly broke into a washer/dryer at the Hamlet Laundromat on Sept. 8, and stole an undetermined amount of coins, damaging the machine in the process.
Benson is accused of prying into and bending the stainless steel panel to gain access to the coin box.
A warrant for Benson’s arrest was issued to the Hamlet Police Department on Oct. 2, charging him with one misdemeanor count each of: breaking into a coin/currency machine; damage to a coin/currency machine; and misdemeanor larceny.
Benson was arrested Oct. 6 and booked into the Richmond County Jail where he is being held without bond.
Court records show Benson was previously arrested Jan. 19 on those same charges — plus a charge of injury to personal property — for allegedly prying open a coin box on a machine and stealing money in November 2024. He was released on a $2,500 unsecured bond.
Benson is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 9 on the previous charges and Oct. 23 on the new charges.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Benson is currently serving a 12-month suspended sentence following a March 14 conviction for unauthorized use of motor conveyance.
Benson was first convicted in 2016 of driving while impaired. A few days later, he was convicted on a felony cross burning charge in Anson County.
He was also convicted in 2022 of possession of drug paraphernalia.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
