Attempted coin heist at Big Oak Plaza Coins, Santa Rosa(3rd in few weeks) police offer $2,500 reward
Goldbully
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Here we go again. At least, according to Jack Beymer owner of Big Oak Plaza Coins, just "some coins got bruised." 
The store’s owner, Jack Beymer
Santa Rosa police offer reward in armed coin heist
NASHELLY CHAVEZ
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | July 16, 2018, 7:33PM
Police hope a $2,500 reward will help garner tips leading to the arrest of two men who attempted to hold up a west Santa Rosa coin store on Saturday morning, the third robbery reported at the business in a little over two weeks.
No arrests have been made in the foiled heist at Big Oak Plaza Coins, Santa Rosa police Lt. John Cregan said Monday.
Detectives believe two men tried to make off with valuable coins from the West Third Street shop during the robbery, which was reported to police at around 9:15 a.m. Saturday.
Two employees confronted the men, forcing them to leave empty-handed. One clerk ripped a tray of coins out of the hands of a suspect, who fired at least one shot at the employee but missed, Cregan said.
The men fled in a car parked nearby.
The store’s owner, Jack Beymer, said the pair tried to make off with about 50 gold coins before they were stopped. The valuable coins included American Gold Eagles, Canadian Gold Maple Leafs and South African Krugerrands, each valued at almost $1,300, Beymer said.
“The second guy shot at my manager, fortunately missing,” Beymer said. “Nobody was injured. Some coins got bruised and that’s it.”
Police initially reported three suspects were involved in the robbery, based on conflicting information from witnesses.
However, detectives with the department’s violent crime and gang crime units later determined there were only two suspects.
The robbery is the third reported to police at the coin store in the past few weeks, Cregan said.
In the two prior incidents, suspects began by engaging with clerks and then waited until they were distracted before taking items from the store. A weapon was not used in either of those robberies, he added. The first robbery occurred June 28 and involved the theft of foreign coins, Beymer said. In the second robbery, on July 5, a suspect fled with about $5,000 in gold nuggets, he said.
“We’re still investigating to see if those suspects have any connection to this incident,” Cregan said.
Since Saturday’s robbery, Beymer has ordered security cameras that capture images at a higher resolution than the ones currently at his store, he said. He also planned to move some of the items taken in the most recent heist to a different location. The coin shop was previously located at Coddingtown Mall, where Beymer opened his business in 1971, he said.
The reward for tips about the robbery comes from the “Take Back Our Community Fund,” overseen by the business association Sonoma County Alliance. Cregan said the money would awarded to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of either suspect.
You can reach Staff Writer Nashelly Chavez at 707-521-5203 or nashelly.chavez@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nashellytweets.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/8539333-181/santa-rosa-police-offer-reward?sba=AAS&artslide=0
Comments
Bummer for Jack. I like him. I hope it settles down over there...
Sad. It's almost as if coin stores should be inside of enclosed malls where escaping with stolen merchandise is much harder.
Coins for drugs. If caught they will just get a slap on the wrist.
Mr. Beymer would surely do a very decent business without a B&M store. He is a nationally well-known and respected numismatist.
His location looks like it was pretty upscale back in 1971. Now it looks, per Google Earth to be rather downtrodden. Neighborhoods change over the years and from the looks of things this neighborhood has aged rather poorly. Might consider relocating.
bob
Santa Rosa, unfortunately, has become a bit ghetto. It started with the 2008 downturn and has gotten worse since the devastating wildfires last fall. Tons of homeless and questionables loitering in public spaces. Sad, really, it's situated in a nice area, not too far from the Bay Area proper.
There is not a man in the business who is nicer or more pleasant than Mr. Beymer. The man has a heart of gold. Maybe time for him to hang it up. Santa Rosa was a wonderful place way back when. Not so much any more. It's all coming to a town near you. What a shame.
Not to mention some great wineries and majestic scenery.
I agree with Bill Dugan, Jacks been around a long time, If I were him I would just close up the store front and just do the bigger shows.(safe because Id requiremnts upon entrance) Maybe he gets stuff to walk in the store, but I am sure he gets offered a lot of material from the show circuit as well. Not to mention, he could still do catalog mail order and such.
Unfortunately, folks must consider them and easy target, and it will be tried again, you can almost guarantee it.
I think its time these shops go behind full bar's to protect the workers. After all your just a big target and No security in over 90% of these stores. I worked in Vegas when they started robbing the cashier offices. They had NO bars the robbers just jumped over the counter and robbed them blind. What did the casino's do they put bars on ALL Cashier posts. This was 1993 or about then.
No coins are worth your life. Probably not the best decision by the employee.
EAC 6024
Sadly, I fear he is a target now. he should do what a friend of mine does-hire and armed off duty cop to sit in the store and or get the local cops to park a cop car there. Walking around with guns showing on employees may only lead to a gun fight.
Does not matter where you are, people are getting more desperate.
Did I miss pics/info on the suspects?...
On July 14, 2018, at approximately 9:17 a.m. the Santa Rosa Police Department received a 911 call reporting an armed robbery and shooting at the Big Oak Plaza Coin store located at 2490 West Third Street.
The investigation revealed that two suspects entered the store and each of the suspects grabbed a large tray of valuable coins from behind the counter. There were two employees in the store at the time and a third employee outside of the store. The first suspect fled the store carrying the tray of coins, and was confronted by the employee who was already outside the store. The suspect struggled with the employee and eventually threw the tray of coins at the store employee and fled on foot.
The second suspect attempted to flee the store with a tray of coins and was confronted by a store employee at the door to the business. The suspect struggled to leave the store with the coins, but the store employee knocked the tray to the ground. The store employee ran after the second suspect and the suspect pulled a semi-automatic handgun and fired one shot at the store employee. The suspects fled the scene together in a 2017 gray Ford Focus sedan with Illinois license plates.
The suspects were described as:
Suspect #1—Caucasian Male, 25 to 35 years of age, 6 feet tall, 190 to 200 pounds, short brown hair. He had a “cheek stud” implanted high on his right cheekbone on his face with a clear round stone. The suspect possibly has tattoos on his right arm and hand.
Suspect #2—African American Male, 6 feet tall, 230 pounds, with short black dreadlocks
Santa Rosa Police Detectives continued the investigation and determined the identity of Suspect #2 who fired the shot. This suspect was identified as Kevin Anthony Payne. Payne is a 29-year-old resident of Ontario, California in Southern California. Detectives worked tirelessly to locate Kevin Payne and they developed information that Payne had fled to Los Angeles in the Ford Focus. On July 16, 2018, Los Angeles Police Department officers arrested Kevin Payne in Los Angeles. Payne was still driving the Ford Focus and was in possession of a loaded semi-automatic handgun which matched the description of the firearm used in the robbery. Payne was arrested for 664/187 PC—Attempted Murder and 211 PC—Robbery.
Payne is also prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior 192 PC—(Manslaughter) conviction. This conviction was a result of a Sonoma County homicide arrest which occurred in Guerneville in July of 2011.
Detectives believe that Suspect #1 was involved in a prior theft of coins at the same location on July 6, 2018. On this date, the suspect entered the store and engaged an employee in a conversation. The suspect then reached behind the counter and successfully fled the store with a tray of coins.
We are still attempting to determine the identify of Suspect #1. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance “Take Back Our Community Program.” The reward is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects involved in this robbery. Anyone with information can call Santa Rosa Police Department Gang Crimes Investigations Team at (707) 543-3670.
Media inquiries may be directed to Lieutenant John Cregan at 707-543-4070 or jcregan@srcity.org
https://local.nixle.com/alert/6690240/
Probably time to close that store before someone gets hurt.
Just found some good news................
One of two men suspected of robbing a coin store in Santa Rosa on Saturday has been arrested, police said. Kevin Anthony Payne, 29, of Ontario in Southern California, is suspected of firing a shot at an employee as he fled the Big Oak Plaza Coin store at 2490 W. Third St. after the robbery reported at 9:17 a.m. Saturday, police said.
Santa Rosa police detectives learned Payne fled to Los Angeles in a Ford Focus, and Los Angeles police arrested him on Monday. Payne was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and robbery, and he was in possession of a loaded semi-automatic handgun that matched the description of the firearm used in the robbery, police said.
Payne was convicted of a manslaughter that occurred in Guerneville in July 2011, and he was prohibited from using a firearm, according to police. The other robbery suspect is still at large. He was described as a white man who is 25-35 years old, 6 feet, 190-200 pounds with short brown hair. He has a cheek stud with a clear round stone implanted high on his right cheekbone and possibly has tattoos on his right arm and hand, police said.
Investigators believe he stole a tray of coins at the same coin store on July 6. In the robbery on Saturday, both suspects grabbed a tray of valuable coins from behind a counter. Two employees were in the store and a third was outside at the time of the robbery, according to police. The employee outside of the store confronted the second suspect, who eventually threw away the tray of coins during a struggle and fled, police said.
Another store employee confronted Payne at the coin shop door and knocked the tray of coins from Payne’s hands. The store employee chased Payne and Payne allegedly fired a shot from a handgun at the employee as he fled. Both men fled in a 2017 gray Ford Focus with Illinois license plates, police said. There is a reward of up to $2,500 for the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
https://www.fugitive.com/2018/07/18/two-men-suspected-of-robbing-a-coin-store-in-santa-rosa-have-been-arrested/
Ex felon with a firearm will be doing some real serious time. Manslaughter conviction in 2011 and he's out already? Good old CA.
I have family there and will NOT enter that state for any reason, period. If they don't visit me then that's the way it goes. I have to put my gun in the trunk as soon as I cross the state line, so what good is that? Do the perps do that too???
I passed up a chance to buy some Morgans because they would not come to NV and I would not go the CA. Dealer in Havasu got them on the cheap and was glad I didn't bother!!!!
bob
One caught ,one to go.
Implanted cheek stud...sounds like a reader.
The whole thing is a shame. Jack's shop is my LCS and has been for longer than I care to remember. Other posters are correct, the area isn't great and has become noticeably worse since the firestorm (along with other areas in the city as well). The homeless problem is just plain ridiculous in many parts of the city (to be fair other parts of the city are still very nice and excellent places). In several areas the homeless have joined up into organized groups coordinating their activities (pan handling, drug selling, theft/robbery, hookers, etc...). Santa Rosa isn't San Francisco or Seattle but it's not too far off. AU&AG is also correct that thanks to this being CA the guy they caught will get some serious charges with gun crime ad-on's, he won't get any kind of slap on the wrist. It's a double edged sword though as we can't be "trusted" to protect ourselves. Most business owners aren't even allowed to be armed at their business. The rationale has been that property, even valuable property, isn't worth a life so owners are just supposed to hand over their goods and hope that the criminals only want their property. There are a few exceptions but not many and the criminals are more than aware of this. Over the past few years if I intend on making a sizable purchase from him I do it at a coin show instead of his shop. Don't feel comfortable carrying a bunch of cash into the store without armed security and/or without the ability to protect myself and haven't for a while now. My paranoia (as my wife would call it) also has me concerned about the smarter bad guys just watching who makes big purchases and following them home to see where they live. We recently elected a new Sheriff but unfortunately his views don't seem to differ much from his predecessors and the county's extreme reluctance to issue CCW permits won't be changing any time soon. I wish Jack and his crew all the best in what ever they decide to do.
Glad they caught one guy. And I agree, SR is going to Helenahandbasket fairly rapidly.
But I will say the two times I went into Jack's place (separated by over two decades,) I was treated like dirt.
"Attempted coin heist at Big Oak Plaza Coins, Santa Rosa(3rd in few weeks) police offer $2,500 reward"
I have to stop speed reading through the thread topics. This one came out, "Attempted coin heist at Big Oak Pizza, Santa Clause..."
Yes, I know how the eyes can play these bad tricks... sometimes I gotta read this stuff three or four times. It's shocking.
Very sad.... However, in addition to better camera's, Jack needs to invest in further security measures. He should hire a consultant to 'harden' his shop... Lots can be done to make it more secure. My recommendation would be to leave California....I will not even travel there anymore. Cheers, RickO
Thank God Jack and his employees are OK. They do not deserve being violated by some low life scum repeat offenders that shouldn't be on the street.
On another subject have you ever seen the inventory he lists in his ads or poured over the stuff he brings to major shows? Want a 1916 SLQ, call Jack. Want 15 of them, call Jack. Same thing for 1893-S dollars. I never saw anyone with so many of everything.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
+1
Time for Jack to move his business online. He could probably sell more on Instagram in one day than he can sell at the shop in a week.
They call me "Pack the Ripper"