Men arrested, thousands of items seized at Seattle coin shop

SEATTLE — Three men were arrested and thousands of items were seized at a North Seattle coin shop last week.

Seattle police spent 10 months investigating Seattle Rare Coins in the 8600 block of Aurora Avenue North.  Investigators said employees bought stolen goods and then resold them on eBay and Offerup.com.

Officers said they were able to sell stolen goods to the coin shop on a dozen occasions. Some of those items were later found listed for sale online.

On Friday, detectives arrested three men at the business and served a search warrant. Police recovered thousands of items believed to be stolen,  including electronics, power tools, knives, boating gear, clothing, health and beauty supplies, a handgun and more than $6,000 in cash.

Investigators said they believe the men were buying stolen items for about ten percent of their retail value and were providing a place for thieves to sell stolen goods for cash, which they would then use to purchase drugs.

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