Suspect Steals Rare Coin, Manager Fires Shot

Hello

There is a video showing the robbery on the link
below. Interesting.

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FROM:
http://www.wftv.com/news/19872956/detail.html

Suspect Steals Rare Coin, Manager Fires Shot

Posted: 5:15 pm EDT June 26, 2009
Updated: 6:12 pm EDT June 26, 2009

MARION COUNTY, Fla. -- The manager of a Marion County
jewelry store opened fire when a robber came in to
steal an expensive coin.

The robber was after a rare coin worth $20,000 from
a store on 109th Avenue in Summerfield.

At Bob's Coins and Jewelry, general manager Vicki
Buxton believes in tight security.

"I knew it was coming, and I watch everyone,"
said Buxton.

A man with a hammer smashed into one of the cases
and grabbed a rare medallion; depicting an image of
Christ and one just like it was given to the Pope.

It is no ordinary coin. It's more than 11 ounces of
solid gold with three flawless diamonds and a ruby.

The $20,000 theft was caught on several security
cameras. The bandit was in and out in just a few
seconds.

"Runs out into the parking lot, drops it, goes
chasing after it. It was pretty comical. That's
all he had time to get," she said.

However, Vickie had time to grab her gun, but
luckily for the thief, the weapon misfired twice.
The bullets she said were 20 years old.

"When they're old, they won't work?" asked WFTV
reporter Berndt Petersen.

"Right," she replied. "So, I re-chambered one and
got one off. I'm pretty sure I hit the back of
his truck."

"How scared were you?" asked Petersen. "I wasn't
scared until afterward," responded Buxton.

She believes the robber had a helper, a woman she
suspects was casing the place right before the
smash and grab.

Sheriff's detectives aren't sure. Vicki doesn't
know if she'll ever see that gold piece again, but
she says she's not going to lose any more of her
inventory.

"We'll have buzzers installed on the door Monday
morning and even more cameras and more security,
and a better gun," she said.

Buxton says a coin like that would be very hard
to pawn and she doubts it's headed for the black
market. She suspects the thieves will pry out
the jewels and melt the gold.



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