Romanian Coin Thieves Hit Lynchburg: A Real New York Story

A Romanian national's coin theft spree comes to an end in Lynchburg, Virginia, after hitting multiple states and localities. Get the lowdown on this wild ride.

Alright, picture this: A Romanian dude from Queens, allegedly wanted in like, a bunch of states, gets busted in Lynchburg, Virginia. For coin theft. It's a real New York story gone south, y'know?

The Lynchburg Bust

Casian Sava, a 21-year-old with a taste for gold, found his luck ran out at a Lynchburg coin show. Just weeks before, he allegedly swiped $14,000 in gold coins from a dealer near Charlottesville. The kicker? The dealer spotted him again in Lynchburg, leading to his arrest.

The M.O.

So, how'd they do it? Police say Sava and his accomplice (still on the lam, by the way) would distract dealers with a wad of cash, then slip a pouch of coins into the woman's hands. Smooth, right? Until it wasn't.

Domino Effect

The Lynchburg arrest opened a whole can of worms. Turns out, Sava was allegedly involved in other coin heists, including a $30,000 gold krugerrand theft in Vienna. Now, Fairfax, Stafford, Rockbridge, and Franklin counties all wanted a piece of him. Rockbridge already got two convictions.

Is it the end of the road?

The Numismatic Crime Information Center flagged the Lynchburg arrest, even using some outdated terms for traveling thieves. But prosecutors are sticking to the charges: grand larceny, conspiracy, and fraud. Sava's in jail without bail, awaiting hearings. His accomplice? Still out there. As for the missing coins? Who knows!

So, there you have it. A Romanian coin thief's Virginia adventure comes to a screeching halt in Lynchburg. You can't make this stuff up, folks. Stay safe out there!