Associated Press
HEPHZIBAH, Ga. (AP) - A supermarket produce manager helped police crack the case of the theft of a collection of silver dollars and half dollars stolen in a home burglary.
Two Hephzibah men and a juvenile were arrested while trying to cash in the final batch of 964 coins in a coin machine at a Martinez Kroger, Richmond County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jimmy Vowell said Thursday.
Officers recovered a rare collection of 450 uncirculated $2 bills and 27 guns stolen from the home of a 64-year-old man, who was planning to cash them in for retirement.
Produce manager Albert McCarthy was suspicious because he thought one of the three suspects was too young to have such a large amount of change. He notified authorities.
A deputy saw 50-cent pieces spill out of the trio’s car door when he opened it, and spotted hundreds of $2 bills in the car, Vowell said.
Brian R. Boedecker, 18, and James Clifford Turner Jr., 20, were charged with burglary and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The 16-year-old was arrested and taken to the Augusta Youth Detention Center, Vowell said.
Officials from Coinstar were working with police to recover the coins from the machines, which are designed to count coins and print a voucher that can be traded for cash or groceries.