The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a man who stole an assortment of rare coins worth nearly $40,000 from a local store by concealing them under his jacket.
The theft happened Nov. 17, at Dalton Stamp and Coin at 110 West Waugh Street. At approximately 5:30 p.m., a man went in to the store and began asking the owner about rare coins. The owner showed the suspect between 70 and 80 coins in a box. During the discussion, the suspect distracted the owner by asking to see something under the counter. While the owner’s back was turned, the suspect concealed the box of coins under his jacket. The suspect then told the store owner that he had to go back to his car to get his credit card to make his purchase. After about a minute, the owner realized that the box of coins was missing, but the suspect was already gone. The owner estimates the value of the stolen rare coins to be approximately $37,000.
The suspect is a black male with a shaved head standing approximately six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds. He wore eyeglasses, a dark jacket, jeans, and white tennis shoes.
While investigating this incident, Dalton investigators learned that the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department is investigating a similar crime in which a suspect matching the Dalton suspect’s description stole a rare $1,000 bill. In that incident, the suspect wore a black track suit with yellow trim.
If anyone has information on this incident or the identity of the suspect, they contact Detective Jason Thompson with the Dalton Police Department at 706 278-9085, dial 9 and enter extension 174.