California Gold Fever Sweeps the Criminal Underworld
Source: Claims Journal, Thomas Watkins (9/8/11)
"Gold fever is also fueling a crime spree in the precious metal."
Claims Journal, Thomas Watkins
After a summer of brazen attacks on gold stores, parts of downtown Los Angeles now look more like a militarized zone than a commercial corridor.
The gold fever that has driven prices to an all-time high is also fueling a crime spree in the precious metal. Police are seeing an uptick in robberies and burglaries related to gold prices, which peaked at $1,891 an ounce last month, up more than $600 from a year earlier.
The beauty of gold, from a criminal standpoint, is it's easy to fence. Rings and necklaces can be melted down—destroying the evidence—and sold. . .View Full Article
After a summer of brazen attacks on gold stores, parts of downtown Los Angeles now look more like a militarized zone than a commercial corridor.
The gold fever that has driven prices to an all-time high is also fueling a crime spree in the precious metal. Police are seeing an uptick in robberies and burglaries related to gold prices, which peaked at $1,891 an ounce last month, up more than $600 from a year earlier.
The beauty of gold, from a criminal standpoint, is it's easy to fence. Rings and necklaces can be melted down—destroying the evidence—and sold. . .View Full Article