Thieves Stole $234,500 in Dimes from a Tractor-Trailer in Philadelphia

　　Details of the Theft

　　Federal authorities have released more information and unsealed charges in the theft of over 2 million dimes earlier this year. The coins were stolen from a tractor-trailer that had picked them up from the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia.

　　The truck driver was headed to Miami when he stopped at a parking lot to sleep on April 13. During the night, thieves stole a portion of the $750,000 worth of dimes, weighing about six tons.

　　Thousands of coins were left scattered across the parking lot in northeast Philadelphia.

　　Investigation and Charges

　　The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that prosecutors believe the theft, which now totals $234,500 in stolen dimes, was part of a series of robberies targeting tractor-trailers passing through the region. The thieves also stole frozen crab legs, shrimp, meat, beer, and liquor.

　　Detectives reviewed surveillance video that showed six men, wearing gray hoodies and armed with bolt cutters, approaching the truck in the middle of the night. They broke into the truck and loaded the coins into smaller bags and a waiting truck.

　　The indictment unsealed Friday alleges that after the theft, thousands of dimes were converted into cash at coin machines in Maryland or deposited into at least four different suburban Philadelphia banks.

　　Defendants

　　Four Philadelphia men — 25-year-old Rakiem Savage, 31-year-old Ronald Byrd, 30-year-old Haneef Palmer, and 32-year-old Malik Palmer — face charges of conspiracy, robbery, theft of government money, and other offenses.

　　Messages seeking comment on the charges were sent to attorneys for Savage and Malik Palmer. Court documents do not list attorneys for Byrd and Haneef Palmer, and a message could not be left at a number listed for the latter.