By Doug Davis – Founder & President, Numismatic Crime Information Center (NCIC) ……
Traveling Suspect
The suspects pictured were in Grants Pass, Oregon yesterday mid-morning and responsible for stealing $7,000 in gold coins. At approximately 4pm the same suspects were in a shop in Redding, California approximately 200 miles away. The owner contacted the Numismatic Crime Information Center (NCIC) while the suspects were in the shop. Police were dispatched but the suspects left before police arrived. However, the shop owner was able to get a license plate and description of vehicle the suspects were driving: a blue Pacifica van with California plates. The suspect in the brown hat was accompanied by a younger male subject.
These are the same suspects involved in several offenses across the country. The subject in the hat may have facial hair or not.
The suspects are highly mobile and have traveled from midwest to western states”in a short period of time. Make sure all employees are aware of these subjects and their MO.
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Gold Coin Theft-Coin Show
On Saturday November 17, 2018, two suspects were able to distract a dealer at the Grapevine, Texas coin show and steal a roll of Krugerrands. The suspects were described as a male and female with European accents. They showed the dealer a picture of a coin necklace and were looking for gold coins to make a similar piece. The male suspect wanted to look at a gold eagle and as the dealer opened his case the female immediately reached inside. The dealer said “You just cant reach in my case like that”, and the suspect removed her hand. The female then pulled out a roll of money and said they did not have enough and needed to find an ATM machine. The subjects left the show and never returned.
A few minutes after the suspects left, the dealer realized a roll of Krugerrands was missing. It is apparent that the female suspect palmed the roll when she aggressively reached into the show case. The dealer advised their actions were swift and professional.
Male subject:
- Mid-thirties
- 5’6″-5’8″
- Dark hair
- Pencil-thin beard
- Heavy set
- Thick accent
Female subject:
- Mid-thirties
- 5’8″-5’10”
- Light brown hair
- Could pass for caucasian
- Medium build
- Thick accent
SHOW DEALERS SHOULD BE ALERT. The MO in this offense has similar characteristics to recent coin shop thefts that have occurred across the country. THIS MAY BE A NEW TREND AT SHOWS.
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Residential Burglary
Fairfax County, Virginia police are investigating a residential burglary that resulted in the theft of the following gold coins:
- 1907 $20 Saint High Relief in AU condition
- 1908 $10 Indian in VG condition
- 1851 $50 Octagonal Moffat and Humbert in Good condition
Anyone with information please contact Detective Song at (703) 277-2072.
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Possible Credit Card Fraud
The Numismatic Crime Information Center and the Long Beach Police Department are looking for any dealer who has done business with any person or persons at the following address:
2520 Pine Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90806
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Stolen/Lost
A USPS package containing the following coins has been reported stolen/lost. Tracking information shows the package was received at the San Francisco distribution facility on Novemebr 15, 2018.
- 1880 Dollars Trade PCGS PR64CAM 36865583 Not CAC 1
- 1797 Dollars Bust, Small Eagle 9X7 Sm Let PCGS XF45 36865585 Not CAC 1
- 1876-CC Dollars Trade Dbld Die PCGS AU58 27317882 Passed 1
- 1879-S Dollars Morgan Rev 1878 NGC MS63PL 28621103 Not CAC 1
- 1875-S/CC Dollars Trade-Chop Marked T$1 PCGS AU58 24403761 Not CAC 1
- 1923-S Dollars Peace PCGS MS64+ 35823146 Not CAC 1
- 1934 Dollars Peace PCGS MS65 34796009 Not CAC 1
- 1885-O Dollars Morgan PCGS MS65DM 81720280 Not CAC 1
- 1880-S Dollars Morgan PCGS MS66PL 35682410 Not CAC 1
- 1891-O Dollars Morgan PCGS MS64PL 35836831 Not CAC 1
- 1891-CC Dollars Morgan PCGS MS64DM 3273731 Not CAC 1
- 1881-CC Dollars Morgan PCGS MS65DM 34109357 Not CAC 2
- 1852 Territorial California Assay $10 NGC MS61 40221604 Not CAC 2
- 1907-S $20 Gold Liberty Type 3 NGC MS64 2370425013 Not CAC 2
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Missing/Stolen Fedex Package
A package being shipped from Dallas, TX to Missouri has been reported missing/stolen. The package was last scanned in Berkeley, MO.
1776 $1 Continental Dollar, CURENCY, Pewter AU55 NGC. Newman 1-B, Breen-1086, Hodder 1-A.2, W-8435, High R.7.
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Suspect Arrested
NCIC, working closely with international law enforcement partners in the UK, NYPD Organized Crime Detail and Jewelers Security Alliance have been tracking Roma gang members targeting coin shops across the country. During the past 90 days, NCIC has sent out alerts with photos of suspects using coin distractions and quick change thefts when trying to purchase coins. On November 29, the NYPD arrested one of the main suspects in these offenses. Three other subjects were also detained but not arrested.
The suspects were highly mobile nationwide and several offenses were thwarted by dealers receiving the email crime alerts and sharing this information with employees and other dealers.
The following suspect is in custody of the New York City Police Department:
NCIC can provide additional information to investigating agencies.
Please contact the Numismatic Crime Information Center’s Doug Davis if you have any questions or information about any of the cases above. You can reach him at (817) 723-7231, or email him at [email protected].
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The Numismatic Crime Information Center is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation. P.O. Box 14080 Arlington, Texas 76094.
