Photo: cache of cash
June 11, 2021 – Santa Barbara, Ca.
45-year-old Greggory Schneider is no straightforward smash-and-grab pawn shop thief. Apparently, he’s much more clever than that…but not clever enough to avoid being caught on a security camera system at just the wrong moment.
According to Santa Barbara Police Department spokesman Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale, during the last week of May, 2021 Schneider—“a coin and collectible dealer”—had been recruited by the owner of a well-known Santa Barbara pawn shop to assist in conducting “an inventory and appraisal of gold, silver, and high-end jewelry” held for sale on the premises.
But when the pawn shop owner found the inventory coming up short of expected levels, he contacted the SBPD and detectives promptly began an investigation. It didn’t take long for them to access the pawn shop’s security cameras, the video record of which showed Schneider “taking a large amount of inventory from the shop and placing it into a personal backpack.”
At that point, a Santa Barbara Superior Court judge issued a search warrant for Schneider’s vehicle and Los Angeles area residence. The ensuring search lead detectives to the discovery of “a large amount of cash” suspected as the proceeds of his thievery.
Schneider was taken into custody at his residence on June 2 nd and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail. He was booked on a felony charge of theft from an elder and remains in custody with his bail set at $50,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara Police Department
