[CPProt.net] Thief rivals 'Ocean' crew (more about the Loudoun County courthouse coins theft)

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Thief rivals 'Ocean' crew 
By Sarah Black 
07/19/2005


It's a heist so bold, so audacious that it smacked of George Clooney, Brad
Pitt, Bernie Mac and the rest of the "Ocean's Eleven" gang.

Twelve coins - some dating back to the 1800s - and two artifacts were lifted
from a display case in a hallway in a Loudoun County courthouse. Apparently
during daylight. In an area with an overhead video camera. And some 25
deputies around to provide security. 


The coins were last seen on the morning of July 12, safely nestled in a
glass-topped relic box on the second level of the courthouse. A courthouse
visitor stopped to admire them.

The next morning, she returned to show the items to a family member. But the
coins were gone, as were a stamped brass button and fair token for
transportation in Washington, D.C.

"The area was immediately sealed off from the public and treated as a crime
scene," said Sheriff's spokesman Kraig Troxell. "It's difficult, though,
because over 1,000 people are in and out of the courthouse everyday." 

Troxell said there were neither witnesses nor suspects. 

The theft is especially painful to Circuit Court Chief Judge Thomas Horne.
He oversaw an eight-week archaeological dig on the courthouse grounds in
1998 as part of a project to renovate and expand the court. "Judge Horne was
very involved in the archaeological dig," said Troxell. "So this is his baby
-- he's very disappointed."

One of the missing items, discovered during the excavation, is a King George
penny that is said to be worth $5,000. Also missing are seven other pennies
and two dimes, dating from the early to mid-1900s, and a half-cent and
nickel dating from the early 1900s. 

Troxell said he did not know if the courthouse would now install a security
system. However, Gary Clemmons, Clerk of the Circuit Court, said, "The
department in charge of the artifacts will probably consider improving the
security that is there."

If you have information, call the Sheriff's Office at 703-777-0445 or Crime
Solvers at 703-777-1919.

The theft was the second grab of local history in two months. A 1755
engraving of John Campbell, the fourth Earl of Loudoun and county's
namesake, was stolen in May from Balch Library, two blocks west of the
courthouse in Leesburg.