Looters ransack hoarder's house, steal $200K in coins

[Hum]

ALBURGH, VT (AP) ? It took months for anyone to discover that an eccentric man known simply as Radkin had died, crushed under a tractor-pulled horse trailer on his property on the shores of Lake Champlain in northern Vermont. But it didn't take long for looters to ransack the hoarder's dilapidated house, police say, hauling off antiques, a vehicle, scrap metal and more than $200,000 in gold coins.

Four people, including at least one who police suspect knew the 66-year-old Radkin, are facing charges of stealing the coins and cashing them in at coin and jewelry stores. Police expect to make more arrests.

"We've been watching the looters come and go," said John Fleury of Enosburgh, who has a camp across Route 2 from Radkin's property in Alburgh, which used to belong to the family of Fleury's wife.

He said no one called the police because no one was concerned.

The property includes a dilapidated brick house and outbuildings full to the brim with stuff.

"What it is is a hoarder's house," said Vermont State Police Sgt. Maurice Lamothe, who is investigating the burglaries. "The exterior is covered in outbuildings, cars, trailers and everyone one of them is full, I mean full to the top. I had never been in a hoarder's house prior to this. The rooms, you can't walk through them, you can't walk through any of them."

Charged are Ricky Benjamin, 35, and Mark Mumley, 52, both of Alburgh, and Shawn Farrell, 41, of Swanton, who have significant prior records, Lamothe said. Mumley is being held on $75,000 and Benjamin was released on bail. A fourth suspect ?32-year-old Jennifer Jarvis of Alburgh ? was released after being issued a citation.

Police said Thursday the defendants sold coins ranging in value from $350 to $1,800 to coin and jewelry dealers in another county after allegedly claiming they'd inherited the coins.

But the number of coins coming in was a red flag for one dealer, who called police in September.

So far, investigators say they've recovered $5,000 in coins, which are British sovereign coins.

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[Growled Member]

He said no one called the police because no one was concerned

Terrible neighbors.

[Hum]

^ I might not want to report him dead either -- many people fall under suspicion that way.

[Growled Member]

That may be true for many people. I have nothing to hide so I would call the police.

[Hum]

^ Many people have nothing to hide -- but end up under suspicion, even falsely convicted.

If I reported the body, I'd do it anonymously.