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stolen coin collection of $100,000 found-...after being spent...
joebb21
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A Vancouver man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing an antique coin collection, estimated to be worth $100,000, after he spent some of the rare coins at a movie theater and pizza restaurant, Woodland police said.
One of the coins was a quarter worth thousands of dollars that the suspect used at face value, according to investigators.
A Woodland woman, whose mother had collected the coins, reported the collection missing in May. She said the collection, kept in boxes in her garage, included Liberty Head quarters, Morgan dollars and many other coins, some of which date to the early 1800s, police said in a report filed this week in Cowlitz County Superior Court.
Dakoda Garren, 19, had been a suspect in the theft all along, police said. The victim told police in May that she hired Garren and his live-in girlfriend, Elizabeth Massman, to do some work around her house and that the pair had been the only ones besides family members to get near the coins. Garren, however, denied the allegations at the time and told police they “didn’t have any evidence against him,” according to the report.
That may have been true — until, according to investigators, he and Massman, also 19, started spending the rare coins. A Battle Ground movie theater reported earlier this month that, on Aug. 17, a man and woman matching the description of Garren and his girlfriend paid for their tickets with old coins from the 1930s. Police recovered five quarters from the theater, each worth between $5 and $68, according to the report.
Investigators said a theater employee identified Garren from a photo lineup.
Then on Thursday police learned that, also on Aug. 17, a couple spent more rare coins at Rocky’s Pizza in Battle Ground. One of the coins was a Liberty quarter worth between $1,100 and $18,500, police said.
Investigators learned that the rare coins had shown up at the businesses from a tipster, who lives in Clark County and had heard about a $1,000 award being offered for information leading the thieves’ arrest and conviction, Woodland Detective David Plaza said in an interview Wednesday.
Police arrested Garren Saturday on suspicion of first-degree theft. Investigators said he admitted to stealing the coins and using some of them at the restaurant and movie theater. Most of the coins still have not been recovered, Plaza said.
Garren is being held in the Cowlitz County Jail on suspicion of first-degree theft. His bail was set at $40,000.
Plaza said investigators have asked that Massman also be charged with first-degree theft. He said Cowlitz County Jail officials have declined to book and hold her because she is 9 months pregnant.
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One of the coins was a quarter worth thousands of dollars that the suspect used at face value, according to investigators.
A Woodland woman, whose mother had collected the coins, reported the collection missing in May. She said the collection, kept in boxes in her garage, included Liberty Head quarters, Morgan dollars and many other coins, some of which date to the early 1800s, police said in a report filed this week in Cowlitz County Superior Court.
Dakoda Garren, 19, had been a suspect in the theft all along, police said. The victim told police in May that she hired Garren and his live-in girlfriend, Elizabeth Massman, to do some work around her house and that the pair had been the only ones besides family members to get near the coins. Garren, however, denied the allegations at the time and told police they “didn’t have any evidence against him,” according to the report.
That may have been true — until, according to investigators, he and Massman, also 19, started spending the rare coins. A Battle Ground movie theater reported earlier this month that, on Aug. 17, a man and woman matching the description of Garren and his girlfriend paid for their tickets with old coins from the 1930s. Police recovered five quarters from the theater, each worth between $5 and $68, according to the report.
Investigators said a theater employee identified Garren from a photo lineup.
Then on Thursday police learned that, also on Aug. 17, a couple spent more rare coins at Rocky’s Pizza in Battle Ground. One of the coins was a Liberty quarter worth between $1,100 and $18,500, police said.
Investigators learned that the rare coins had shown up at the businesses from a tipster, who lives in Clark County and had heard about a $1,000 award being offered for information leading the thieves’ arrest and conviction, Woodland Detective David Plaza said in an interview Wednesday.
Police arrested Garren Saturday on suspicion of first-degree theft. Investigators said he admitted to stealing the coins and using some of them at the restaurant and movie theater. Most of the coins still have not been recovered, Plaza said.
Garren is being held in the Cowlitz County Jail on suspicion of first-degree theft. His bail was set at $40,000.
Plaza said investigators have asked that Massman also be charged with first-degree theft. He said Cowlitz County Jail officials have declined to book and hold her because she is 9 months pregnant.
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may the fonz be with you...always...
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Freddie
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<< <i>How could people prevent crimes like this happening? Many crimes are perpetrated by people who work for their clients as odd jobs or service personnel. Would requiring that all workers are licensed and bonded help? Checking references and backgrounds? Look, I'm a man's word is his bond kind of guy, but I have learned the hard way that credentials and backgrounds are important based on the work being done. How many people do we know who are not hearing from us what they need to hear to prevent crimes like this? >>
Well, I would start by taking better security precautions. I don't want to blame the victim, but the coins were being stored in "boxes in the garage."
But if I found them, they would wish the police caught them before me.
Member, Society of Silver Dollar Collectors.
Looking for PCGS AU58+ 1901-P, 1896-O, & 1894-O
The only sure way to avoid this situation is to take your valuable coins and put them in a secure place,say a safety deposit box or in the hands of a trusted family member.Just for a limited time.Until the stranger no longer comes to your home.
All of us should be aware of a need for safe storage.Not me you say?Well if you own a few 25th anniversary sets,you are sitting on a few thousand dollars!Now add to that a few 1st spouse coins or some gold buffs and thats a nice payday for a crook.
Think about it,when someone,even a relative comes into your home,they are tempted to "look around".If you dont believe it,just hook up a test by sticking a matchstick in your bathroom medicine cabinet and see if it stays there long.Boxes in a garage are subject to the "I wonder whats in here syndrome".Trust me I know.
These robberies happen with distressing frequency. IMO the owner have been wiser to have kept the coins in a safe deposit box.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163