Police Charge Coin Theft Suspect with Larceny

A Farmington man suspected of an at an Old Avon Village coin shop in late January also stole $600-worth of collector's coins from the same store earlier that month, police said.

Matthew Finucane, 20, turned himself into police Friday on a warrant and was charged with fifth-degree larceny. Police released Finuncane after he posted a $10,000 surety bond.

Police said $400 in coins remain missing from in Avon after they were taken from the store on Jan. 18, but officers recovered the remaining $200-worth in pawnshops, Lt. Kelly Walsh, spokesperson for the , said. 

Storeowner William Guzzi, Sr., who has sold silver and gold collector coins at his store since 1977, said the suspect came into his store to buy coins and left to take out cash from the bank because the store does not accept credit cards. The man came back with an envelope supposedly containing the payment, Guzzi said, put it on the counter and left. The envelope had scrap paper inside of it, according to Guzzi.

That was weeks before police said Finucane returned on Jan. 27, handing Guzzi a note written on a paper bag that said, "I have a gun. Give me all your silver."

Guzzi said he immediately called police and the man ran out. Police said they determined Finucane didn’t have a gun. He faces a charge of attempt to commit first-degree robbery involving the threat of a firearm, according to the state judicial website.

Finucane pleaded not guilty in Hartford Superior Court the charges for both incidents and is scheduled to appear again on March 28, according to the state judicial website.

Editor's Note: If you have any questions about a police blotter item, contact Avon Patch Editor Jessie Sawyer at 860-356-6339 or Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com.