APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Minnesota man is charged with stealing more than $43,000 worth of gold coins from a Kimberly business.
Travis Burrell, 37, faces a felony count of retail theft for the incident Monday at Voecks’ Fox Valley Coin and Diamonds Etc. He also faces a count of possession of THC, the active component of marijuana.
An employee told police a man walked into the store with cash and asked to see the coins. The employee took the coins out of the safe, at which point the robber allegedly grabbed the coins from her, ran out the door and got into a vehicle. An armed security guard followed the robber out the door and fired shots at the vehicle, but the robber was able to get away.
Burrell was later arrested in Winnebago County.
According to the criminal complaint, Burrell’s girlfriend told police they and two kids had come to the Fox Valley for a funeral, but Burrell told investigators they were in the area for the day “to make some money.” Burrell said he found Voecks through a Google search for coin shops. He allegedly said he looks for places that have gold coins, then melts down the gold to get rid of serial numbers so he can sell it.
Burrell also told investigators that a friend was the one who actually went into the store and drove away. The friend was only identified by a nickname in the criminal complaint, and prosecutors admitted in court Thursday that they did not know for sure who was in the store. Prosecutors also said the coins have not been found.
Outagamie County Court Commissioner Brian Figy set a $20,000 cash bond for Burrell.
A next court date has not been scheduled.
If convicted, Burrell faces up to 10 1/2 years in prison.
