Man steals $33,000 in rare coins, uses them in change machines

PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Florida man stole more than $30,000 in rare coins and cashed them in for a fraction of their value at change machines at area grocery stores, investigators said.

Palm Beach Sheriff's Office investigators said Shane Anthony Mele, 40, stole the rare presidential coins, valued at $1,000 each, and other items worth a total of $350,000, the Palm Beach Post reports.

Investigators said Mele sold some of the coins to a pawn shop for $4,000, then exchanged the majority of them through CoinStar change machines at grocery stores, which would only give face value for them, a fraction of their worth.

Mele was arrested and charged with grand theft and unrelated drug charges.

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