Police ID Mount Pleasant bank robbery suspect as international thief,as one member group of gypsies
1630Boston
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MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa - A man wanted by police for a bank holdup in Mount Pleasant last week is now identified as one member of a group of gypsies wanted in a string of robberies in the U.S. and several other countries.
Police say the man seen on security video boldly walking into the bank, and then out with the cash is 19-year-old Lonel Niculescu of Romania.
Investigators say he is part of a group that travels country to country robbing coin shops, banks, jewelry stores, and large department stores.
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The thief changes his location. A liar changes his story. They're both, mostly cheating themselves out of sleep.
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https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Police-investigating-bank-robbery-in-Mount-Pleasant-493319611.html
I heard about this from one of my favorite coin shops in Cedar Rapids. They stopped in there too but did not get away with anything. Here are photos of the perp and his GF/sister who knows which.
The photos are from the coin shop.
EDIT: The thief was also identified shortly after this happened. Not exactly a recent breakthrough.
Wonder what they do with the gold coins they steal. It would be a shame if they melted the stolen coins.
From what I've read they are stealing bullion gold coins rather than rare gold coins with a high numismatic value.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Whew!
OMG, that's terrible !!!
Robbing a bank in his bathrobe, just tacky.
What the hell is he wearing a dress?
Wisdom has been chasing you but, you've always been faster
Looks like a pretty blue night gown.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
19 years old and wanted in 3 countries already. The boy ain't got much of a future.
A smart move. The bullion will be easier to unload than coins that could be recognized. I just hope the FBI gets them soon.
Depending on the region but the OP mentions Romania, therefore a Kurta.
In Romania those are known as Bermuda shorts.
Smart criminals try to blend in rather that stand out and draw attention to themselves. Apparently they aren't too smart.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I agree. The gang boss is the smart one. The rest are the ones we see on camera.
The Gypsies hit somebody in Grant's Pass in southwest Oregon today. Only two people, as with the Coeur d'Alene hit, so the groups of nine people that hit the jewelry shop in Aurora, CO last Wednesday may have split into two or three smaller groups. Could hit any place in Washington, Oregon or Northern California next. Be on the lookout for them.> @Mizzou said:
Perhaps he is one of the distractors?
Pieces of ____.
A) Coin
B ) Puzzle
C) Eight
D) Work
E) None of the above
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They mess with a bank and the FBI gets to jump in on the game. I hope they get them soon and lock them up for a long time before deportation.
FWIW
Old article from 2001, policemag.com
Excerpts:
—Quote—
Gypsies: King of Cons
Who Are they?
The name is steeped in history. Gypsy is short for "Egipcien" or Egyptian; originally thought to have come from Egypt. A Gypsy is a member of a wandering people who migrated to Europe from India in the 15th century.
We have absolutely no idea how many Gypsies are in the United States. Some estimates say there are 10 million worldwide. There are Gypsies in virtually every large town in America. Large populations are known in New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, Texas, Kansas City, Denver, Washington, Las Vegas and Florida (Orlando, Palm Beach, Broward and Dade Counties). There are also significant populations in Toronto, Canada and European countries.
True Gypsies are known as "Rom." However, "Gypsy cops" (the rare breed that they are) know there are Yugoslavian, Romanian, Russian, Polish and Hungarian Gypsies. Each group has its criminal specialty. There is also a group collectively known as the "Travelers." The Travelers are Irish, English or Scottish, not resembling the true Rom, but often included erroneously as Gypsy. Gypsies speak a language known as Romany. This is a spoken language derived from various Indo-European languages. There is no written Romany.
Distraction Thefts
Better known as a store-diversion robbery, suspects will be European or Yugoslavian Gypsies but described by victims as "foreign-speaking" or "Latin/Hispanic." The crime is not planned in advance but more of a "mood" thing. The key is to create a diversion of some sort by five, eight or even 12 males and/or females. After calm is restored, the store usually discovers all of its cash has mysteriously disappeared. Violence is never used but total confusion and pandemonium reign during the theft.
This can be very rewarding. How about $42,000 taken from a supermarket and a three-month crime spree by four Gypsy women resulting in $500,000 in cash?
—End Quote—
Source: http://m.policemag.com/article/1774/gypsies-kings-of-con
Maybe they will get caught in Saudi Arabia. I'm sure they would avoid criminal enterprises there.
No. They aren't stupid. They'll stay here where they'll get a slap on the wrist rather than getting it chopped off.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
This guy is living the American dream. He dam near gets away with murder. If he gets caught he get 3 hot meals and a cot. Much better than his home town begging on the dirty streets. Heck he might even get to vote depending on which State he gets charged, providing he gets caught. What they need to do is chop his right hand off with a big Axe. Then we tell him do it again and we take the other hand.
Not all gypsies are bad folks , I give you Django Reinhardt
I've been reading up on this and some of our friends in the business have been hurt or killed. It's time for law enforcement to get the hammer out for these crooks. Courts also need to send a strong message.
There have been several of these lately.... they will shortly leave the country, if not already out. Based on the progression of the crimes, I would say they will cross the border in WA state into Canada and then on to another country.... seems they already have warrants in Canada. Cheers, RickO
Pictures of two of the Gypsies and their car. Copied from Facebook. Taken in Redding, CA Monday afternoon. Apparently this pair is heading south rather than north, but there were nine people at their Aurora, CO jewelry store heist so they may have split up into two or three groups that could be anywhere.
Hopefully the cops will catch these low life scum soon.
with the frequency of their hits and the exact same routine they use it would a huge shame if a few are not caught very soon by authorities. If you go to a coin shop that doesn't have an online presence tell them what to be on the lookout for because at this point no coin shop should be unaware of these clowns.
It would take a couple hundred dollars to send pictures and discussion of their mo to most every coin shop and pawn shops. Their targets are more likely to be longer term brick and mortar stores.
Chain gangs are needed for these curs before deportation with green baloney sandwiches and water for grub.I lhave lived abroad for years, and profiling is allowed in my present location. How this trash obtains visa, I have no idea, other than people in the States are being taken for fools with all the PC insanity. These people do know how to play the Western system, as they get their heads busted over her when caught.
I wonder if that California plate was stolen by the Gypsies when they got to California. They may just steal new plates in every state they get to.
The USA is lucky, at least if they have a gun and are aggressive you can shoot them in most states. In Canada under Trudeau, they can shoot us, then sue us for discrimination and then Trudeau will most likely give them $10 million and a free hotel room.
all around collector of many fine things
Stay safe my friends.
all around collector of many fine things
No reports for almost two days? I wonder if they know we are tracking their appearances.
Seems like its time dealers bucked up their security protocols. I doubt the local police are putting this high on their list of crimes to solve, they have enough on their plates with violent crime. If the same group is crossing state lines, it becomes and FBI issue at that point.
One report of a hit yesterday in Olympia, WA and another report of a hit yesterday in Tyler, TX!!! No idea how many of these pirate crews are out there!
Same M/O. Start by flashing a wad of cash. Some report that a box is involved that the gold it put into from which it mysteriously disappears
Why would any dealer give a buyer a coin to be put in a box before it's paid for? These aren't master criminals after all, they just take advantage of lax security. My dealer lets you look at one coin at a time, and anything you say you'll buy heputs behind the counter until I pay, then hands me the coins after the cash is transferred.
They use a lot of distraction to confuse the shopkeeper.
The distraction being the wad of cash appealing to the shop keepers (what's a polite word for greed)? If the shop is laid out properly, no amount of people milling about should be cause for concern, and you can focus on the one person looking at your expensive stuff, never letting two or more people handle the merchandise at a time. A line forms, so what. Good customers will understand.
I get it - security is a pain, it takes patience, time and usually involves repetitive, boring work to maintain. But it beats the alternative.
From reports it sounds like misdirection and staged distractions, Sleight of hand like a magician, both physical and verbal. More than one person involved and moving around the store, attention drawn from inquiries and actions. It is a lot to process in a quick period of time.
I do not see how it would be greed clouding dealers judgment, as easily as I can see confusion as the culprit.
I remain baffled with the entire box scenario, how it plays out, it’s position, when items are added, when possession is transferred.
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If they are that easily distracted I'm glad they are selling coins and not guns or prescription medication.
Same m/o, same people. Appears a gang. FBI should be on this, as it seems clear they are going state to state. They caught a family group of the curs working out of a million dollar plus home they had lived in for ten years or so in the nort west suburbs of Chicago a couple years ago working a 'returned goods' scam nation wide. When finally caught, lo and behold, they suddenly were unable to speak nor understand English, and had to be furnished translators for the trial. They do know how to game the system. Hope these are soon busted, and sent up the crick in a not so nice jail for a looonngg time, then deported.
Caught these guys yet?
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
Nope
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I’m sure it’s a top priority for law enforcement...
Eventually they’ll try to hit the wrong shop, and the dealer will keep them occupied long enough to contact police. These aren’t master criminals.
"These aren’t master criminals."
I don't know how to define a master criminal @3stars but per these reports they certainly are seasoned professional thieves.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Vid of Coer d’Alene theft.
At 1:16 the actual sleight of hand caught on camera.
http://www.khq.com/story/39475827/brazen-thieves-steal-thousands-in-gold-coins-from-coeur-dalene-shop
Same two got me for 13 pieces of gold. Bar, Eagle, kangaroo, Buffalo , quarter eagles and Swiss francs, in Omaha on the 8th of Nov.
Great video capture. I doubt the authorities will nab them or the gold.
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