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Dozens of shiny coins are scattered across the parking lot. There are traces of a strange attack in the US. Thieves broke into a parked cash-in-transit van in Philadelphia and stole six tons of coins instead of large bills. The money transport truck was loaded with 10 cent coins – and that ultimately proved to be the gang’s downfall. Because they left an easy trail for the researchers: from one coin exchange machine to another.
A U.S. Mint employee would transport the $750,000 worth of coins to the Federal Reserve Bank in Miami. While he was staying at a hotel in North Philadelphia, the thieves broke into the truck around 2 a.m. with a crowbar and a cutting torch and made off with 2.34 million 10-cent pieces.
“Bad time to exchange coins”
According to the indictment, Rakim S.* (25), Ronald B.* (31), Haneef P.* (30) and Malik P.* (32) exchanged a total of $2,000 at four different banks in Pennsylvania. This allowed the FBI to track them to Maryland, where they then laundered another $3,200 in Coinstar currency exchange machines. When another attempt was made to switch, the federal police officers’ handcuffs snapped shut.
However, the alleged perpetrators have so far remained silent about what happened to the remaining money, more than $229,000. For the police, it is only a matter of time before accomplices give themselves away. Based on security camera images, they suspect that at least two other men were present during the robbery. Miguel Torres, special investigator with the Philadelphia Police Department, has a tip for residents of Pennsylvania and surrounding states in the New York Times: “If you have a lot of 10-cent pieces at home, that would be a very bad one. to exchange them!”
The four arrested are due to stand trial in federal court on charges of conspiracy and aggravated theft of government property. You risk a prison sentence of decades. (ymh)
*Names known
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
