Any other news on the robbery incident at Long Beach?

Longacre · June 4, 2007 5:38AM

I was taking a look at the CoinRaritiesOnline show report for Long Beach, and it mentioned some robbery incident (not involving their firm, though). Does anyone have any details about this? Was it an organized robbery, or just some punk palming some coins?

Here is the full report: CoinRaritiesOnline

wayneherndon · June 4, 2007 6:29AM

My table is adjacent to Coleman's. I was away when the incident occured but returned a minute or two later. According to Coleman and MaryAnn, it was the latter (some punk palming some coins).

WH

ColonialCoinUnion · June 4, 2007 6:35AM

Yes, it was a punk who was apparently walking around with a second punk.

I happened to be a few tables away when the incident happened, and the lady behind the table I was visiting told me she had seen the same guy at past LB's and she thought he stole a coin from her but couldn't be sure / wasn't positive.

They later announced over the PA system that the thief was being watched by security for the previous couple of days, which I hope was the case.

Cladiator · June 4, 2007 6:35AM

Did they catch the SOB? If not, what did he get away with?

ColonialCoinUnion · June 4, 2007 6:54AM

They caught him.

WTCG · June 4, 2007 9:49AM

It should also be known that thiefs will typically target a dealer who is more infirmed, elderly, obese, handicapped or otherwise less capable of stopping a theft or robbery due to their physical constraints. Although unfortunate, I believe Coleman Foster was targeted for this reason.

Boom · June 4, 2007 9:54AM

ColonialCoinUnion · June 4, 2007 9:56AM

<< It should also be known that thiefs will typically target a dealer who is more infirmed, elderly, obese, handicapped or otherwise less capable of stopping a theft or robbery due to their physical constraints. Although unfortunate, I believe Coleman Foster was targeted for this reason. >>

The thief apparently had coins from a variety of dealers on him when he was searched.

Halfsense · June 4, 2007 10:29AM

The statement below was released today, Monday, June 4, by Ronald J. Gillio, General Chairman of the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo
-donn-
-------------------

In two separate incidents security officers at the show apprehended two suspected coin thieves on Saturday, June 2.

Our experienced security team is composed of current and former Long Beach police officers who closely work with the dealers as well as provide safety for the general public at each Long Beach Expo. Undercover security team members observed separate incidents of suspected theft, and they apprehended two suspects and quickly recovered stolen coins. One of the suspects tried to run away when he was approached by officers, but the security team easily captured him and removed him from the bourse floor.

However, one of the dealers has refused to press charges against the suspect who was caught stealing from him. I simply can't understand that. Because the dealer would not file charges this thief had to be released, although we took a photo of the suspect and he will not be admitted to any future shows.

TwoSides2aCoin · June 4, 2007 10:34AM

Every show should have one !

Coxe · June 4, 2007 11:01AM

<< However, one of the dealers has refused to press charges against the suspect who was caught stealing from him. I simply can't understand that. Because the dealer would not file charges this thief had to be released, although we took a photo of the suspect and he will not be admitted to any future shows. >>

If he pressed charges, he would receive a subpoena. That would be more of a burden than anything. If the dealer is subpoenaed and ignores it, he could face a bench warrant and, if from out of state, wouldn't be capable of doing further business in the state of California without risking arrest. Funny system we have, huh? Similar thing happened to me about 25 years ago.

coindeuce · June 4, 2007 11:16AM

A subpoena would only come into play if the rat bastidge plead not guilty to the charges, and a trial date was scheduled. Since he was caught in possession of the stolen property, it seems more likely that had the dealer manned up and signed an information, the turd would be looking for a plea deal, and not being handed a free "get out of jail" card.

Coxe · June 4, 2007 11:27AM

<< A subpoena would only come into play if the rat bastidge plead not guilty to the charges. Since he was caught in possession of the stolen property, it seems more likely that had the dealer manned up and signed an information, the turd would be looking for a plea deal, and not being handed a free "get out of jail" card. >>

Not if the DA wants to hang him for a series of crimes and use this more evidence-solid one as primary evidence.

That's what happened to me. I had filed a police report on the theft for insurance purposes. (The entire stamp collection was among the goods stolen.) Some of the booty tuned up in a raid of a thief's apartment. There was a lot more stuff there but my report was extremely detailed. The DA subpoenaed me and threatened me with a warrant and said I would be arrested if I came back to Pennsylvania (where I grew up) to visit my family. I was stuck as I was in the middle of some time-critical work on my physics PhD. Ended up costing me a lot of money and grief to get it all dropped with respect to me. Never underestimate the actions of a politically hungry DA who can effortlessly subpoena any name the like without personal consequence and with complete dispassionate disregard for the innocent victim in the whole thing.

tincup · June 4, 2007 11:32AM

Yep.... good thing that are laws are there to protect and look out for the victims....

coindeuce · June 4, 2007 11:37AM

Your situation was completely different John. In the Long Beach scenario, the thief was observed and apprehended in the act, which provides a much stronger basis for prosecution, and consequently within the parameters of our current judicial system for an offense like this, usually leads to a plea agreement. No DA in his right mind is going to spend the public tax money for a trial on some two bit bungling coin thief. As it is, the inidividual who was released would not even have an arrest record where the victim refused to place charges.

Longacre · June 4, 2007 11:40AM

I'm learning some criminal law in this thread (which I didn't like because I had a lousy professor in law school).

Coxe · June 4, 2007 11:41AM

OK. If that is indeed the record for that guy. Still, the dealer's motivations may very well have been predicated on the potential of a legal mess like this (absent of such details). Just wanted his property and avoid any possible headache.

RegistryCoin · June 4, 2007 12:05PM

If the value of the stolen items was greater, and/or the stolen items were not returned to the victim, or someone was physically harmed in the theft,
would it then become less of a headache to press charges and follow through with prosecution?

foodude · June 4, 2007 12:09PM

I'm learning some criminal law in this thread (which I didn't like because I had a lousy professor in law school).

My crimminal law prof was 92! He took criminal law in 1922, and said he got a D.

seatedcollector · June 4, 2007 3:43PM

i always thought the crooks at coin shows were BEHIND the table ??? LOL

Writersblock · June 5, 2007 4:52AM

<< No DA in his right mind is going to spend the public tax money for a trial on some two bit bungling coin thief. >>

Correct, so the perps, will plead Not Guilty even though they were observed and caught red handed because they know the DA won't try the case unless the victim is pressing charges personally. If the victim is from out of state and has to keep running back to CA only to get sent back home for another continuance, he is likely to drop the charges and they either walk or plead to a much lesser charge because like you said the DA isn't going to waste the taxpayers money on a trial. For that reason the crooks will normally target out of state dealers, and the further away the better.

fishcooker · June 5, 2007 4:58AM

Why don't they fear Guido, and his bat?

StrikeOutXXX · June 5, 2007 5:04AM

<< Yep.... good thing that are laws are there to protect and look out for the victims....

>>

The sad part is absent the security force, if the dealer had jumped over the table and beat down the thieves, more than likely the dealer would have had charges filed on them.

Maybe the dealer didn't want to press the issue because of his insurance company? Maybe his "Rates" would go up or something along those lines.

Any other news on the robbery incident at Long Beach?

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