Whitley deputies searching for vandal(s) that targeted Woodbine store

 Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help to identify the individual who vandalized Ronda’s Deli in Woodbine.

According to Lt. Dennis Foley the individual was captured on video approaching the vending machine outside the store on Ky. 6 just across the railroad tracks from Ky. 26.

Store-owner Ronda Pridemore said the incident happened at 12:08 a.m. on July 9.

The video shows the individual, a white male, wearing blue jeans, a light colored t-shirt and orange baseball cap, with a full, thick, dark beard and mustache.

Pridemore said the individual came up to the machine and kicked it.

“He may have been listening to see if there is any money in it,” Pridemore said.

After speaking with another individual who remained out of sight of the camera, the individual broke the locks and cut the large metal bar across the machine into two pieces.

“My husband had emptied the machine the night before,” Pridemore said.

The individual also damaged the security cameras outside the store.

Pridemore said those have been replaced and are working again.

Pridemore added that the vending machines have been repaired and will remain outside the store, noting the story has gone viral since the sheriff’s department reported the incident on its Facebook page.

“With this going like it is, I don’t think anyone is going to mess with it for a while,” Pridemore said, adding this is the third time the vending machines have been vandalized since the store opened more than a year ago.

“At least they know they can’t come in here and do this,” she said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the sheriff’s department at 549-6017 and asked to speak to Foley