By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
A 75-year-old Salina resident returned home after an unknown amount of time and discovered $11,000 worth of antique coins and precious metals stolen from her safe.
Salina Police Department officers visited a residence in the 1900 block of Valley View Drive on Sunday, Feb. 18, after the homeowner reported numerous silver and gold bars alongside multiple Silver Eagle coins stolen.
According to SPD Capt. James Feldman, the homeowner found a broken key in the safe's lock and asked 33-year-old Salina resident Blaine Godinez to help her force the safe open.
Feldman said the homeowner reported that Godinez was housesitting while she was away.
"Mr. Godinez provided a possible suspect," Feldman said. "The officers began investigating and determined that the suspect had conducted several pawn transactions, one at a local pawn shop and one in Junction City. When they located this suspect, he indicated that it was actually Mr. Godinez who had given him the items."
Further investigation found that Godinez made numerous transactions with local pawn shops and sold the antique coins, which officers identified as originating from the victim's safe.
Officers also found that Godinez stole one of the victim's credit cards and used it online to make purchases.
SPD officers then arrested Godinez and requested charges for five counts of making a false writing, seven counts of misdemeanor theft by deception, two counts of felony theft by deception, one count of felony theft, four counts of criminal use of a credit card and one count of unlawful computer act.
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