Police seek owners of collectible coins recovered during shoplifting, gun theft, drug arrest in Unity

State police arrested a Cook Township man Friday on a shoplifting charge and found him in possession of a gun they say was stolen and 63 collectible coins they believe could be linked to a local theft.

Police said they found the coins and a silver bar in 26-year-old Alexander Kimmick’s backpack when they responded to a report of a retail theft in progress after 2 a.m. Friday at the Sheetz store on Route 30 in Unity.

According to police, a search of the backpack and an additional plastic bag belonging to Kimmick revealed 10 pills of the anxiety medication alprazolam, suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia including hypodermic needles, empty stamp bags, smoking devices and a digital scale.

A store employee told police he saw Kimmick pocketing merchandise including skin lotion and batteries, according to a criminal complaint.

Police said Kimmick also had in his pockets a wrapper containing suspected crystal meth, 15 stamp bags labeled “speed lube,” six bullets and an unloaded pistol. A man who owns the pistol told police he had placed the weapon between the driver’s seat and center console of his car while giving Kimmick a ride on Thursday, according to the complaint.

The man told investigators he knows Kimmick but didn’t give him permission to have the gun and wasn’t aware it was missing.

Photos of the recovered coins provided by authorities show many in packaging typically used by collectible coin dealers.

Police are asking anyone with information about the coins’ possible owners to contact Trooper Brandon Boyd, who is investigating the case, at 724-832-3288.

Kimmick was arraigned before Unity District Judge Tamara Mahady on drug and theft charges and a count of carrying a firearm without a license. He was placed in the Westmoreland County Jail after failing to post $25,000 bail.

Police said Kimmick is ineligible to obtain a concealed carry permit because of previous drug-related offenses.

According to online court documents, Kimmick was sentenced to three to 23 months in jail after pleading guilty in 2020 to a previous charge of carrying a gun without a license.

In February 2024, he pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and fleeing police in Mt. Pleasant Township and was sentenced to 72 hours to six months in jail and one year of probation.

More recently, was been charged with drug violations Oct. 25 in Ligonier Borough and is facing a preliminary hearing March 21.