A $10,000 reward was offered after a giant gold nugget was reportedly stolen from the Long Beach Convention Center on Thursday.
Bob Campbell, owner of a coin shop in Salt Lake City, said he took the nuggets to the Long Beach Fair, which gathers sellers of coins and other collectibles, and sold them for more than $80,000. He said it was worth more than its gold content because of the “original 49ers nugget” believed to date back to the Gold Rush.
“If they melt it down, they lose money. It’s collectible,” Campbell said. The nugget, which weighs about 27 ounces, is about the size of a goose egg and specimens of this size are “extremely rare,” he added.
Video taken by another coin dealer at the event shows someone appearing to press down on a display case and pocket something. Campbell blamed the box for being defective, allowing thieves to get their hands inside.
Long Beach police said they are investigating the theft, which was reported just before noon Thursday. Campbell also distributed fliers with gold nuggets and photos of the alleged thieves and personally offered a $10,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.
“We’re hoping that this information will get out” and maybe “one of his friends will rat him out,” Campbell said.
He urged anyone with information to call his Utah store at (801) 467-8636 or contact the Long Beach Police Department regarding Case No. 24-28245.
