FORMER LOCAL MOVING COMPANY EMPLOYEE STEALS JEWELRY AND COINS VALUED OVER $50,000 FROM 91 YEAR OLD VICTIM

Posted on 7/7/2016

Defendant: Christopher David Welch

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “This was an entrusted moving company employee who abused his position for his own personal gain by stealing valuable and sentimental jewelry and coins from an unsuspecting 91 year old man.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Christopher David Welch, age 38 for one count (F-2) Theft from a Person in a Protected Class.  Welch was formerly employed as a mover for Mr. Mover, a local moving company at 6767 Huntley Road in Columbus, and was contracted to move 91 year old Jan Wiersema from Savannah, GA to Lewis Center, OH between April 20th and April 26th, 2016.  Following the move and as the victim was unpacking, he noticed that some of his gold jewelry and gold coins were missing.  Police reports were filed and it was discovered shortly thereafter that Welch was selling the jewelry and coins to the Buckeye Gold Stores located at 5350 N. Hamilton Road and 5831 Sawmill Road.  A search warrant was executed at Welch’s residence, and police found more of the victim’s missing jewelry and coins. There is currently an active arrest warrant for Welch.