Rare coin collector left out of pocket by Halfcrown Street c

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Rare coin collector left out of pocket by Halfcrown Street con-artist

http://www.clickliverpool.com/news/loca ... rtist.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A pair of rare gold coins have been swiped from a Royal Mail postal depot by a tricky fraudster who has left a keen collector out-of-pocket.

The con-artist duped staff at the Halfcrown Street sorting office in Walton into handing over two South African coins intended for 71 year-old coin enthusiast Frank Dunne.

The thief allegedly signed a collection card with a "squiggle" and presented a fake ID to steal the Kruggerand coins worth #2,000 and leaving Mr Dunne furious at the blunder.

He said: "I kept getting fobbed off by Royal Mail saying there was no delivery expected for me.

"After several phone calls I found out a con-artist pretending to be me had taken them from under the noses of the staff."

Kruggerrand were first minted in 1967 to boost the South African economy during apartheid and were once illegal to exchange if imported outside its borders.

A Royal Mail inquiry found that a postman tried to deliver the coins to Mr Dunne's home but he did not answer and the coins were taken back to the depot.

The theft occurred between 12th and 14th January 2011 and Mr Dunne has been desperately trying to find who is responsible for his valuable package going missing.

Merseyside Police discovered the coins were taken using "fraud by mis-representation" but they have failed to come up with any suspects and ceased their inquiries.

"The police said nothing could be done because I reported it too late and there was no CCTV footage to catch the crook," said Mr Dunne, of Kensington in Liverpool.

"I'm consulting a solicitor now to see if anything to be done."

Royal Mail insist they are "satisfied" the correct procedure had been followed by their staff in north Liverpool.

In a letter to the out-of-pocket coin collector, a spokesperson said: "We are satisfied that our handling of your item was appropriate.

"The Delivery Office Manager has confirmed your item was collected with the relevant identification along with the notification card shown by the person who collected the item.

"Whilst I have great sympathy with the situation we are unable to take any further action in respect of this matter."

The former trade unionist said: "We live in uncertain times and I bought several Kruggerrands because of their worth in gold.

"Their value could double or even treble and It was my way of beating the recession and saving for the future."

Mr Dunne's Kruggerrands weigh one ounce and the coins he bought for £1,870 for the pair have already increased in value by £300.

The coins were sold to Mr Dunne by Malcolm Ellis Ltd in Surrey and they have been trading for 52 years.

Specialist Marcia Ellis works at her Surrey-based family business, who have been trading for 52 years, and has had several conversations with an "upset" Mr Dunne.

She said: "It's a great shame that these coins have gone missing. They were sent to ensure that any risk of getting lost in the post would be minimised as they are very expensive.

"I am very sorry for Mr Dunne but as far as I am aware it is a mystery as to what happened to them once they arrived in Liverpool."

Nick Martens of Royal Mail said: "We wouldn't comment on an individual customer other than to confirm we are still in contact with Mr Dunne and his claim remains under consideration."

[fishtank]

Something isn't quite right with this....

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Something isn't quite right with this....

That was my first thought.

[DGP1]

Very strange, I suppose this is a piece of very bad reporting and the real story will come out eventually. Someone coming into the callers office with the card plus ID will get their item plus it was signed for (probably special) so I assume there is a name on the PDA............but very strange indeed.

[clashcityrocker]

If the thief had the 739 card it is either someone with access to his house or it is an inside job and the postie has given the card to someone.

Quite ironic though - coin collector and Halfcrown Street.

[POSTMAN]

We've had 2 or 3 similiar stories posted on here about fraudsters picking stuff up with a dodgy card and ID.
Same question every time,how did the fraudster know the stuff was carded.

[fishtank]

It is possible someone knew he was a coin collector.
It is possible he staked out the place,saw the postie card him,had some blank P739 cards,forged some ID and collected the gear.
It isn't very likely though.
It's also possible that someone at the sender's end is bent.
They would have all the details and the tracking number so they could see if it was carded.
Again it's unlikely.
I think most people who know the system know the most likely scenario.
It's also a strange comment from the cops...they have failed to come up with any suspects and ceased their inquiries.
Usually "ceased their inquiries" means they know exactly who did it but have no chance of proving it.

[NWpostie]

In my locker before we hand over any item we need

1) a 739
2) Acceptable form of ID, if its a special or anything that needs to be signed for
3) signature

For the alleged theft to take place

1)the person who collected it must have either a 739 which means access to house
2) to stake the house in order to collect the 739, you need to know if the coin is coming in the first place, unless the collector had been telling everybody what he is getting, being 71 years old does he have a home help who would be privy to that information
3) access to correct and current ID to collect the item
3) could it be an insurance job ? get the coin and the insurance money at the same time ?

[Lounge Lizard]

In my locker before we hand over any item we need

1) a 739
2) Acceptable form of ID, if its a special or anything that needs to be signed for
3) signature

For the alleged theft to take place

1)the person who collected it must have either a 739 which means access to house
2) to stake the house in order to collect the 739, you need to know if the coin is coming in the first place, unless the collector had been telling everybody what he is getting, being 71 years old does he have a home help who would be privy to that information
3) access to correct and current ID to collect the item
3) could it be an insurance job ? get the coin and the insurance money at the same time ?

This incident did take place in Liverpool though. and they're not all as nice there as Tillyboo's Peter.

[scoobydo79]

As already stated Guys. I smell a rat here!

[POSTMAN]

In my locker before we hand over any item we need

1) a 739
2) Acceptable form of ID, if its a special or anything that needs to be signed for
3) signature

For the alleged theft to take place

1)the person who collected it must have either a 739 which means access to house
2) to stake the house in order to collect the 739, you need to know if the coin is coming in the first place, unless the collector had been telling everybody what he is getting, being 71 years old does he have a home help who would be privy to that information
3) access to correct and current ID to collect the item
3) could it be an insurance job ? get the coin and the insurance money at the same time ?

This incident did take place in Liverpool though. and they're not all as nice there as Tillyboo's Peter.

Ahhhhh Liverpool,who is the only major city in the UK...

[Lounge Lizard]

In my locker before we hand over any item we need

1) a 739
2) Acceptable form of ID, if its a special or anything that needs to be signed for
3) signature

For the alleged theft to take place

1)the person who collected it must have either a 739 which means access to house
2) to stake the house in order to collect the 739, you need to know if the coin is coming in the first place, unless the collector had been telling everybody what he is getting, being 71 years old does he have a home help who would be privy to that information
3) access to correct and current ID to collect the item
3) could it be an insurance job ? get the coin and the insurance money at the same time ?

This incident did take place in Liverpool though. and they're not all as nice there as Tillyboo's Peter.

Ahhhhh Liverpool,who is the only major city in the UK...

... the only city in the UK to take the decision to promote itself at the 2010 World Expo, in the economically dynamic city of Shanghai,
... the only British city ever to have its own Whitehall office,
... the only British city to attract gunboats during the twentieth century,
... the only major city in the UK where Tillboo found true love,
- the list is endless

[TeeferTiger]

... the only major city where shell suits and bubble perms are still considered fashionable...

[KDHULL]

It has to be a relative who found the 739 first, them things can fly down the hallway and into any nook or cranny!

[clashcityrocker]

Ahhhhh Liverpool,who is the only major city in the UK...

that beat Man U in the FA cup this weekend.