Ohio scrap metal collector finds, returns box of $50K in gold, silver

3/12/2013

CANTON, Ohio — Police say a northeast Ohio scrap metal collector who found a small box containing nearly $50,000 in gold and silver won't face charges because he returned it all.

The Repository in Canton reports an employee of Hartville Coin & Jewelry put the box in a vehicle, but it fell out of the trunk as he drove away last week. Someone passing by scooped up the box, and police began using surveillance footage to track down the perpetrator.

Michael Swogger says a friend recognized Swogger's picture on the news and told him police were looking for him in the theft case. The 36-year-old Canton man says when he realized what was happening, he contacted police to return the box of gold coins, Canadian silver dollars and scrap gold on Saturday.

Read more of this story at cantonrep.com.