Early on Thursday morning, a trailer containing $750,000 worth of dimes from the Franklin Mint was broken into in Northeast Philadelphia.[0] Police estimate that roughly $100,000 worth of dimes were stolen from the trailer.[1] The truck driver had picked up the dimes from the Philadelphia Mint on Wednesday and parked his big rig in the Walmart parking lot before going home to sleep.[2] When he returned on Thursday morning, he discovered that the trailer door was open and dimes were strewn across the parking lot to Woodhaven Road.[3] It is unclear how much money in dimes was stolen from the trailer.
The incident is currently under investigation, and no arrests have been made.[4] Police are hoping someone will come forward with information about the theft. They believe that approximately one million dimes worth $100,000 were stolen from the trailer, and there are dimes all over the parking lot.[2]
Cargo thefts have become increasingly common in the Northeast Philadelphia and South Philadelphia areas over the past few months. According to Captain John Ryan of Northeast Detectives, there have been thefts of lamb, chicken, TVs, refrigerators, and alcohol.[5]
The theft of the dimes is just the latest in a string of cargo thefts in the area. While it is not known if the thief or thieves knew what was inside the unmarked trailer, it is not unusual for thieves to break into trailers just to see what they can find.[6] The incident highlights the need for increased security measures to prevent cargo thefts.
SWAT officers were called to the scene to help block entrances, and the investigation is ongoing.[4] It is not clear how many people were involved in the theft or if they knew what the trailer contained. However, police are hoping that someone will come forward with information about the crime.
0. “Unmarked Trailer With $750,000 Worth of Dimes Robbed, Dimes Scattered All Over” NBC 10 Philadelphia, 13 Apr. 2023, https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/unmarked-trailer-with-750000-worth-of-dimes-robbed-dimes-scattered-all-over/3545030
1. “One million dimes reported stolen from big rig parked at Philly Walmart” CDLLife, 13 Apr. 2023, https://cdllife.com/2023/one-million-dimes-reported-stolen-from-big-rig-parked-at-philly-walmart
2. “Police: Estimated 1 million dimes stolen from truck in Northeast Philadelphia” WPVI-TV, 13 Apr. 2023, https://6abc.com/dime-theft-trailer-containing-dimes-philadelphia-walmart-parking-lot/13121955/
3. “Police: Estimated 1 million dimes stolen from truck in Philadelphia” WJRT, 13 Apr. 2023, https://www.abc12.com/news/crime/police-estimated-1-million-dimes-stolen-from-truck-in-philadelphia/article_4c948ad4-ba01-50ea-bc31-4a632fe0f589.html
4. “Truck Containing 750K Dimes Robbed In Philadelphia, Police Say” Daily Voice, 13 Apr. 2023, https://dailyvoice.com/pennsylvania/bucks/police-fire/truck-containing-750k-dimes-robbed-in-philadelphia-police-say/861399/
5. “Dimes and dash: Police investigating dime theft in Northeast Philadelphia” CBS Philly, 13 Apr. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-police-dimes-theft-walmart-franklin-mills-mall/
6. “Police: Estimated 1 million dimes stolen from truck in Philadelphia – Local News 8” LocalNews8.com, 13 Apr. 2023, https://localnews8.com/cnn-regional/2023/04/13/police-estimated-1-million-dimes-stolen-from-truck-in-philadelphia/