Vanguard couple 'stunned' by $50,000 theft of coins
Sheldon and Linda Clark are devastated after learning thieves took vintage coins and family heirlooms — valued at over $50,000 — from their home while the two were away visiting a sick relative.
The Clarks, who are retired and living in Vanguard, Sask. were visiting sick relatives in Ontario when thieves stole the collector coins, antique guns, jewellery and family war memorabilia from their farm house.
They were down east in early July to visit a sister dying of cancer. When they returned home at the end of September, the Clarks knew something was wrong.The wood doorframe on their house was splintered and the door was buckled.
"The heart just sank," Sheldon Clark told CBC News. "We're stunned."
Thieves had cleaned out a cedar hope chest and locked gun cabinet, then removed two safes from the couple's basement. Clark said one fire-proof safe weighed 150 kilograms.
"We just kind of sat down and didn't say anything for awhile," he said. "And then we just consoled each other and had a bit of cry over it. What more can you do?"
Guns, coins, medals
On Thursday, RCMP issued a news release about the break and enter with a partial list of what was missing, including six long guns, including a Lee-Enfield rifle from the Second World War and an 1894 Winchester rifle; however, the Clarks are more devastated over losing their coin collection and family heirlooms.
The safes contained war medals and ribbons belonging to Linda Clark's great-uncle and father from the First World War and Second World War, respectively, as well as her deceased mother's jewellery.
The coin collection includes hundreds of limited edition coins from the Royal Canadian Mint, and is valued by Clark at more than $50,000.
"Everything they took, over 90% of it, is still boxed in the mint boxes, in the packages, encapsulated. Most of the coins have never been touched."
Unique items also included sheets of $2 and $1 bills that had never been cut into pieces. Building the collection has been a passion for Clark, spanning most of his life.
Cherished items from lifetime of collecting
When Clark was three years old his father, a taxi driver, gave him a brand new 1952 silver dollar coin. Soon after, Clark's father was killed in a car accident and Clark has treasured that silver dollar coin ever since.
It too was stolen.
"It's the only memory I have of him," Clark said, choking up.
Making matters worse, most of the couple's records were stored inside the safe along with the coins. The thieves walked off with receipts and other documents that the insurance companies are now requesting.
The Royal Canadian Mint can provide documents for the past seven years but the Clarks are kicking themselves for not installing cameras or securing the safes.
"We kind of blame ourselves for what happened a little bit," he said. "But, at the same time, we were violated."
Clark believes he and his wife may know the culprit(s) since there was no damage inside the home and the person seemed to know their hiding spots.
RCMP are asking anyone with information to contact the Ponteix detachment at 306-625-6400, or call Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
