Police in Germany have charged an elderly man with serious theft after he was spotted trying to remove a chewing-gum dispenser from a wall. Several other dispensers were found in his car.

The sweet-toothed burglar

A 72-year-old man has been arrested in the German city of Mannheim after he had been spotted trying to take down a chewing-gum dispenser with a hammer and screwdriver. Police searched his car and found eight other chewing-gum dispensers. The alleged perpetrator is reported to have given police officers conflicting statements when explaining how the machines came to be in his car.

The Mannheim police officers also found tools in the man’s car. He was released after the charges were filed, and an investigation is ongoing.

Mysterious gum thief on the loose

There had been previous reports of the man trying to remove sweet dispensers, and police said he was first spotted trying to remove a dispenser by a woman in Brühl in the state of Baden-Württemberg.

According to the VAFA dispenser vendors association, there are around 400.000 sweet dispensers across Germany.