Norwich man charged in rare coins and weapons thefts

A Norwich man already facing charges on a string of burglaries was arraigned today in Norwich Superior Court on charges that he burglarized more homes, including one burglary that involved the theft of more than $40,000 in coins, guns and knives.

Safi Kachmar, 18, of 54 Sherwood Lane, was charged with first-degree larceny, third-degree burglary and destruction of evidence.

Norwich police said on Sept. 12, 2011 they received a complaint that a home on Thames View Road was burglarized. The homeowner there said that a safe that was bolted to his bedroom floor was broken in to, the warrant said.

The homeowner reported that several coins were stolen, including 122 Silver Eagle coins valued at $4,880, 140 Silver dollars valued at $3,080 and 40 American Eagle Silver proofs valued at $2,400.

On Sept. 22, Groton Town police informed Norwich police that they were contacted by police in Westwood, Mass. that three people attempted to sell coins at a local pawn store.

Police were able to identify Safi from surveillance video taken from the store, the warrant said.

Police interviewed Waylon Verley who admitted to police that he and Safi stole the coins. He said a friend of Safi's drew a map of the house. Both he and Safi wore blonde wigs and rubber gloves and broke the safe, the warrant said.

Verley said he and Safi droved to Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire and sold the coins to several pawn shops. He said they received $17,000 from the stolen items.

Safi was also charged Tuesday in connection with the theft of two generators from a home at Bushnell Place in Norwich. The homeowner said the generators were stolen from her front porch.

Police said Verley and Kachmar attempted to sell one of the generators at Gold Star pawn shop in Groton. When the pawn shop owners confronted the pair that police were looking for stolen generators they left.

The warrant said that Kachmar dumped the generators in the river because he would not be able to sell them.

Last month, Kachmar was charged with burglaries that occurred in Preston and Old Lyme.

Police said on Nov. 15 they were notified of a burglary that occurred at a home on Krug Road. The victims said that computer items, video games, televisions, and jewelry were stolen from the home. The value of the stolen items was more than $16,000, the warrant said.

Verley also told police that sometime in November, he and Kachmar also robbed a home on Saunders Hollow Road in Old Lyme because they were looking for guns. They broke into a shed and stole some ammunition. They did not find any guns. They burned the shed when they thought a car was coming.

Safi was also charged Tuesday with cruelty to animals.

Safi's next court date is scheduled for March 21.