EXPLAIN. DAVE. WELL, THE COIN CAPER TOOK PLACE IN AN UNSECURED WALMART PARKING LOT IN PHILADELPHIA. NOW, A TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVERS THAT WE TALKED WITH ADVISE ALWAYS USE TRUCK STOPS LIKE THIS ONE. THEY SAY SAFETY IS IN NUMBERS AND A DRIVER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE IS LIKELY TO SEE AND SAY SOMETHING. HERE’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T SEE EVERY DAY. SHINY, SHIMMERING DIMES BEING SHOVELED INTO BAGS AS THE DIMES SPILLED AFTER FOUR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW IN FEDERAL CUSTODY ALLEGEDLY BROKE INTO A TRACTOR TRAILER CARRYING 2 MILLION OF THEM FROM THE US MINT. IT’S BIZARRE. IT’S ALL THAT’S ALL WE HAVE TODAY IS BIZARRE BEHAVIOR. THE THIEVES INITIALLY GOT AWAY WITH $234,000 WORTH OF DIMES AND TRY TO TURN IT INTO CASH USING COINSTAR MACHINES ALONG THE EAST COAST, INCLUDING LOCATIONS IN COCKEYSVILLE AND TOWSON. THAT’S REAL CRAZY. IT REALLY IS. BUT THEY GOT CAUGHT, RIGHT? WHEN WILL PEOPLE REALIZE THEY HAVE ENOUGH WITHIN THEMSELVES THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO AFTER OTHER PEOPLE’S THING? AUTHORITIES SAY THE HAUL WEIGHED MORE THAN A TON, ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL INDICTMENT. 25 YEAR OLD RAKEEM SAVAGE, 31 YEAR OLD RONALD BIRD AND 30 YEAR OLD HANEEF, PALMER AND 32 YEAR OLD MALIK PALMER ARE CHARGED WITH THEFT, WHICH INCLUDES GOVERNMENT MONEY AND ROBBERY. THE INDICTMENT ALLEGES THEY WERE INVOLVED IN A SPREE OF TRACTOR TRAILER THEFTS. THEY ARE ACCUSED OF STEALING TVS, REFRIGERATORS IN ONE CASE BY FORCE, FROZEN CRAB LEGS, SHRIMP, MEAT, BEER AND LIQUOR, THEN OFFERING THEM FOR SALE. AUTHORITIES SAY THE THIEVES TARGETED TRUCKS PASSING THROUGH THE PHILADELPHIA AREA. THE COIN CAPER INVOLVED A DRIVER WHO PARKED HIS TRUCK IN A WALMART PARKING LOT AND LEFT IT UNATTENDED. TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVERS SAY IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS. DONETSK BRAXTON YOU HAVE TO GO THE TRUCK STOP. YOU HAVE TO FIND A TRUCK STOP. MOST TIMES TRUCK STOP IS SECURE. IT’S GATED. AND THEN THAT’S THE THAT’S THE BEST PLACE TO TO TO PUT IT. WHO ELSE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT TO TRY TO DO THAT FOR AND THEN TAKE IT TO A COIN STORE. THE INDICTMENT ALLEGES THE DEFENDANTS USE A MONEY WEIGHT CALCULATOR TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY WOULD WEIGH. REPORTING LIVE FRO
2 million dimes stolen, alleged thieves try to convert to cash
Updated: 5:04 AM EDT Oct 25, 2023
Four people have been charged after allegedly breaking into a tractor-trailer carrying 2 million dimes. They made off with more than $234,000 worth of coins.It happened in Philadelphia, but the alleged thieves reportedly tried to turn them into cash using Coinstar machines along the east coast.According to the federal indictment, Rakiem Savage, 25, Ronald Byrd, 31, Haneef Palmer, 30, and Malik Palmerk, 32, have been charged with theft including government money and robbery. The trailer they are accused of breaking into was carrying dimes from the U.S. Mint. Authorities said the haul weighed more than a ton.The indictment alleges the men were involved in a spree of tractor-trailer thefts. They are accused of stealing TVs, refrigerators — by force, in one case, frozen crab legs, shrimp, meat, beer and liquor, then offering them for sale.Authorities said the men targeted trucks passing through the Philadelphia area. The coin truck involved a driver who parked his trailer in a Walmart parking lot and left it unattended.Drivers said it is important to take precautions.”You have to go to a truck stop. Most times, a truck stop is secure and that’s the best place to put it,” driver Tweneboa Boaheng said.The four men are now in federal custody.
Four people have been charged after allegedly breaking into a tractor-trailer carrying 2 million dimes. They made off with more than $234,000 worth of coins.
It happened in Philadelphia, but the alleged thieves reportedly tried to turn them into cash using Coinstar machines along the east coast.
According to the federal indictment, Rakiem Savage, 25, Ronald Byrd, 31, Haneef Palmer, 30, and Malik Palmerk, 32, have been charged with theft including government money and robbery. The trailer they are accused of breaking into was carrying dimes from the U.S. Mint. Authorities said the haul weighed more than a ton.
The indictment alleges the men were involved in a spree of tractor-trailer thefts. They are accused of stealing TVs, refrigerators — by force, in one case, frozen crab legs, shrimp, meat, beer and liquor, then offering them for sale.
Authorities said the men targeted trucks passing through the Philadelphia area. The coin truck involved a driver who parked his trailer in a Walmart parking lot and left it unattended.
Drivers said it is important to take precautions.
“You have to go to a truck stop. Most times, a truck stop is secure and that’s the best place to put it,” driver Tweneboa Boaheng said.
The four men are now in federal custody.
