Coin Collection Stolen Tucson AZ.

jnd1955 · January 25, 2009 10:57PM

hello everyone. i am posting this in hopes there maybe some one in the Tucson AZ aera. the collection was stolen , maybe if some one tryes to sell you a lot collection you can help this numismatist out can turn then in. here a copy of his post

Hello all
I have not been around much. messing with the wife's illness and all but the 21st while visiting her at the Hospital my home was robbed. the nimrods took my safe, Laptop,and destroyed my security system. got me for about 40K with all the stuff thrown in and about 30K in coins alone. I dobt that i will see any of it in auctions but you never know. most criminals are stupid so i will look for the coins in every venue. the safe was about 300LBS so i know it took more than one guy to do it. I think my dog's helped them load it lol. the sets that are missing are the Jefferson nickel from 38-08 most are MS-PF 65-68 and none are below 64. it was a very nice book. a Eisonhower set also complete with proof's and varieties. Roosevelt with all proofs also complet to 08. SBA book complete with all 18 coins.Washington Quarters from 32-08 complete and most are in the 60 range from 32-64 and everything from 64-08 are no less than 64 with most being in the 66-68 range. Sac also complete to date. and about 15K in unbooked coins.
if you see any of the sets for sale let me know. I know my coins very well and can pull them from photo's cause i have photo's of each coin.
thanks all
Gary

the lady next door came home while they was here and she got a short description of them. they had a brand new white pick up. and it was 3 guys and a girl or female. I would say lady but no lady would get into this kind of thing. they have been messing with my video surveillance for the past two weeks and I could not figure out why they only messed with the only camera that was only picking up the side of my property that had nothing but dirt and a few tree's. then we discovered that it also picked up the ally where they had parked. as for someone I know I don't think so as there is only two people in town that is not family that know I even had a coin collection and I trust them both enough to give them keys. I have a photo of one of the guys but it is on my laptop and they took that too lol. they took care of my security system when the cut the last wire it somehow shorted out the complete system. I have ADT coming in the morning to install a complete new wireless system that connects directly to the police station. I don't know why though lol I don't have anything to protect any more except myself and the wife. for now anyway. I have lost a few collections and I always come back even better than before so the next set is going to be the best. look out John I will be at you coat tell before long lol

ajia · January 25, 2009 11:16PM

John,

That is terrible news.

I will keep an eye out for anything in the So. Cal area, but I am worried about one thing.
When the victim writes "...Jefferson nickel from 38-08 most are MS-PF 65-68 and none are below 64. it was a very nice book...........and about 15K in unbooked coins." and "I know my coins very well and can pull them from photo's cause i have photo's of each coin." I presume these are all raw coins.

It's going to be real hard to track these down, IMO, because we can't go reporting every 'collector' selling a large hoard of coins.

Does the victim have some pictures of distictive coins he had we can see?
That might help.

jnd1955 · January 25, 2009 11:25PM

Hi AJ
i would rule out any collectors, , yes it is going to be all most inpossable to find them.
because there all raw coins in alblums. no pcgs or ngc coins.
i asume they be at least smart enought to get them out of state and dump at a pawn shop, or dealer
but there could be to many driveing a new white PU. hehehheheh
i was just trying to help out and maybe get the work out.

john

CoinHusker · January 25, 2009 11:30PM

Don't forget to post it at the Numismatic Crime Information Center

jnd1955 · January 25, 2009 11:33PM

that you so much . i was looking for that link
john

Coxe · January 25, 2009 11:35PM

There's a chance that the truck was stolen too. (Or even on a test drive....wouldn't that be dumb?) Can't be too mant new pickup sales in any event. Probably meth addicts and they have to keep refueling and will eventually get caught, especially since there are four of them involved. Good luck!

garsmith · January 25, 2009 11:54PM

Contact the local stores with coinstar systems- they probably don't have a clue what they got.

edix2001 · January 25, 2009 11:58PM

<< Don't forget to post it at the Numismatic Crime Information Center >>

Do it right away. Acc'd to Doug Davis, the faster you get the info to them the more likely you are to get stuff back.

sonoranmonsoon · January 26, 2009 12:15AM

You and I have an almost identical story;

I also live in Tucson. I got robbed for $35,000 worth of PCGS graded coins about 2 years ago. I was lax on my security. Here is a quick outline of what I did.

1. Sheriffs department was no help. They would not even check for finger prints. However I did get a police report and provided them with a list of my inventory in case anything showed up.

2. For about a year, I quietly checked the local coin shops and pawn shops to see if my inventory showed up. It never did.

3. To this day, I keep the coin certs in my PCGS inventory hoping somebody send a "removal request". So far no one has. I suspect the person the coins were fenced to, was smart enough to crack them out of the slabs.

4. I had ADT install a security system. I see you did that.

5. I got a couple of safey deposit boxes at the bank. That is where my most valuable coins now reside.

6. I bought a large and extremely heavy safe. (and I do mean heavy). I went through Roadrunner safes on Grant rd., near Swan. I highly recommend you check them out. Good people. I keep all my widgets in there.

7. I reduced the size of my collection so everything that is not at the bank, fits in the safe. I sold off my vams. They took up a lot of room.

8. I bought a gun for the first time in my life. Not something I thought I would ever do, but when this sort of thing happens to you, you got to be protected. I am always worried about the robbers coming back to the well. I bought a big pistol, just in case my aim was off, I would still blow half the jerks body away. I know that sounds mean, but I must tell you, this sort of invasion will make you angry for quite a while. I did take a safety class, and learned how to shoot the stupid thing.

9. All my mail is now received at the post office or one of those mail box places, not at home.

10. I do not belong to a local coin club. On the extremely rare occasion that I visit a local coin shop, I try to pay in cash.

11. I do not use my real name on my registry sets, and keep my public profile here vague. I also removed my ebay link from my signature line. The less people know, the better.

12. MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: When I go to the local pub and get a bit toasted (it happens). I never, ever talk about my coins.

I hate to say this, but the odds of recovering you loss is minimal. However, the lesson learned from it, and the steps you take to prevent it in the future are invaluable. Definately try that website that was posted. I did not know about it when I got hit.

STONE · January 26, 2009 1:52AM

John, as someone who is now living in Tucson, that really hits home.
Make sure to contact as any coin stores and pawn shops as possible.

I Will also try to keep a look out.

Good luck and I hope for the best.

intence · January 26, 2009 1:55AM

sorry to hear. of course keep your eye on CL and ebay

sonoranmonsoon · January 26, 2009 2:03AM

<< John, as someone who is now living in Tucson, that really hits home.
Make sure to contact as any coin stores and pawn shops as possible.

I Will also try to keep a look out.

Good luck and I hope for the best. >>

Stone; When I got hit in Tucson, I decided not to let the coin shops or pawn shops be aware of the theft. I was concerned that if they purchased the coins, they would know they were stolen and crack them out of the slabs. That is why I just went around and spot checked for a year to see if they were available for sale....I must admit, we have a lot of pawn shops. Anyway, nothing ever showed up.

Coxe · January 26, 2009 4:13AM

<< 8. I bought a gun for the first time in my life. Not something I thought I would ever do, but when this sort of thing happens to you, you got to be protected. I am always worried about the robbers coming back to the well. I bought a big pistol, just in case my aim was off, I would still blow half the jerks body away. I know that sounds mean, but I must tell you, this sort of invasion will make you angry for quite a while. I did take a safety class, and learned how to shoot the stupid thing. >>

A former co-worker, who is a big gun guy, recommends for people buying firearms for home security to consider a short barrel shotgun. The rationale is (1) they are are scary even the sound when just chambering a shell, (2) they get the job done, and (3) they aren't as likely to kill a sleeping loved one on the other side of the wall if you do miss as a 45 or 9mm might. Not sure if that is true but figured I would bring it up.

drwstr123 · January 26, 2009 4:19AM

Those of you cosidering firearms, I have a closed chamber .357 mag, it's capable of penetrating 12" of pine boards. Basically, go through your entire house. The shotgun is deadlier and much safer. Jonh, I very sorry to hear about this. I'm not geographically near but I'll check the eBay listings for anything possible. Mike

barbershopper · January 26, 2009 4:37AM

<>

This is good advice. I have digital photos of all my coins. After all, they don't cost anything if
you do it yourself.
The 300 pound safe seems a little on the light side.
You can buy a half ton gun safe for less that a $1,000.
I did that and after 5 men delivered it, I bolted it to the floor from the inside.
I also keep 2 flood lights on at night, the low energy kind.
I got my neighbors blessing before I started doing that.
JT

golfer72 · January 26, 2009 10:03AM

Sorry to hear of your loss. I absolutely hate thieves. I had 5K collection stolen several years ago. Now I make sure my collection is not in all the same place. Broke it up between safe, SDB and hiding places. At least next time they dont get the whole thing. I fear this will happen more often now that the house of cards known as the US economy is falling down.

percyb · January 26, 2009 10:07AM

Sorry to hear this. My first response is someone who knows you.... Knows you have valuable coins.
I hope they're caught!!

tombr · January 26, 2009 10:14AM

A former co-worker, who is a big gun guy, recommends for people buying firearms for home security to consider a short barrel shotgun. The rationale is (1) they are are scary even the sound when just chambering a shell, (2) they get the job done, and (3) they aren't as likely to kill a sleeping loved one on the other side of the wall if you do miss as a 45 or 9mm might. Not sure if that is true but figured I would bring it up. >>

A shotgun is the most devastating weapon at close range.

ArizonaJack · January 26, 2009 11:21AM

<< 

<< 8. I bought a gun for the first time in my life. Not something I thought I would ever do, but when this sort of thing happens to you, you got to be protected. I am always worried about the robbers coming back to the well. I bought a big pistol, just in case my aim was off, I would still blow half the jerks body away. I know that sounds mean, but I must tell you, this sort of invasion will make you angry for quite a while. I did take a safety class, and learned how to shoot the stupid thing. >>

A former co-worker, who is a big gun guy, recommends for people buying firearms for home security to consider a short barrel shotgun. The rationale is (1) they are are scary even the sound when just chambering a shell, (2) they get the job done, and (3) they aren't as likely to kill a sleeping loved one on the other side of the wall if you do miss as a 45 or 9mm might. Not sure if that is true but figured I would bring it up. >>

Very , VERY good advise

Coin Collection Stolen Tucson AZ.

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