Two Cousins Arrested in Hen's Coins Robbery
Gene "Ray" Kulp, 18, and Michael Anthony Creciun, 21, of Lansdale, admitted their involvement in the Jan. 21 robbery, police said. Stolen items were found in a search of their Edgemont Avenue home, police said
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It all started with a black Marlins cap and ended with a gun permit application.
In just two days of investigation, Lansdale Police have arrested and charged cousins Gene “Ray” Kulp, 18 and Michael Anthony Creciun, 21, who both reside on the 500 block of Edgemont Avenue, in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day robbery of Hen's Coins and Collectables on West Main Street in Lansdale.
Both were arraigned before District Judge Henry Schireson of Narberth on the following charges:
- Three counts of felony robbery
- Three counts of felony conspiracy to commit robbery
- Felony theft
- Felony conspiracy to commit theft
- Felony aggravated assault
- Felony conspiracy aggravated assault
- Two counts misdemeanor simple assault
- Misdemeanor conspiracy simple assault
- Misdemeanor reckless endangerment
- Misdemeanor conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment
- Misdemeanor use of prohibited or offensive weapon
- Misdemeanor conspiracy to use a prohibited weapon
- Misdemeanor receiving stolen property
Creciun’s bail was set at $50,000 cash, police said. Kulp’s bail was set at $25,000 cash bail, police said.
Both were sent to Montgomery County prison.
A preliminary hearing in Lansdale is pending.
Creciun and Kulp were arrested by Lansdale Police officers following a directive from Chief Robert McDyre. McDyre informed his officers, including the Street Crimes Unit and Sgt. Ryan Devlin’s patrol squad, to put other assignments on hold and direct all resources into apprehending “those responsible for this heinous assault on our business community.”
Here’s how it all happened:
On Jan. 21, at 9:08 a.m., Lansdale Police responded to Hen’s Coins and Collectables at 308 W. Main St. for a reported hold-up alarm, police said.
Officers arrived and found owner Henry Statuti, 77, inside the store with injuries to his ear and neck, police said.
The owner told police that, between 8:45 and 9 a.m., a young male wearing a baseball hat entered the store and had small talk with him before asking about a coin in the display case, police said.
As the owner began unlocking the case, the man, later identified as Kulp, allegedly grabbed him from behind in a cross-forearm chokehold, police said.
Kulp then allegedly dragged Statuy by the neck to the rear office. Statuy told police he thought he was going to die.
As Kulp continued to allegedly drag the owner, Creciun entered the store, allegedly pulled out a knife and told the victim that he was an “old man” and that they did not want to kill an old man, police said.
While Creciun allegedly stood guard, Kulp went back to the retail area of the store and allegedly began taking items of value, police said.
Five minutes later, Kulp re-entered the office, police said. Kulp and Creciun then allegedly took the victim’s jacket off him and placed it over his face, police said.
The duo walked out and the owner activated the holdup alarm, police said.
At the scene, police recovered a black Miami Marlins hat, worn by Kulp, police said.
A hat worn by one of two males matched video surveillance footage from a nearby business, police said. The video showed two males matching descriptions of both suspects walking on Wood Street toward Main Street, prior to the robbery.
When investigators saw the video, they recognized Creciun from prior contacts, police said.
A second business provided surveillance video that showed both suspects allegedly fleeing the scene, carrying items from Hen’s, police said.
On Jan. 22, the victim was shown a suspect photograph lineup, and identified Creciun as the man with the knife, police said.
One hour later, and one day after the robbery, Creciun walked into Lansdale Police Department to fill out a gun permit, police said.
Creciun was taken into custody and admitted to his role in the robbery, police said.
Creciun also allegedly told police that some of the stolen items were at his house, police said.
While at Lansdale Police headquarters, Creciun received calls from a subject identified as “Ray,” police said.
Using cyber investigative efforts, detectives identified Kulp as a possible suspect, police said.
Judge Harold Borek signed a search warrant on Jan. 22. It was executed at 1:50 p.m. by detectives and patrol officers.
Stolen property from Hen’s was recovered from inside Creciun’s bedroom, police said.
Police discovered “Ray” was Creciun’s cousin, while they were at the residence, police said. Kulp arrived home during the search and spoke to police, where he allegedly admitted his involvement in the robbery, police said.
Police said Creciun had planned the robbery for weeks.
After the robbery, both suspects went to Acme on Welsh Road in Towamencin, police said. There, they allegedly cashed in several hundred dollars in stolen quarters, half dollars and silver dollars via Coin Star, police said.
Creciun had felony forgery and identity theft charges either withdrawn or dismissed at the county court of common pleas level in December 2012, according to court records.
Charges of obstructing justice, lying to police and felony hindering apprehension or prosecution were either withdrawn or not sought by prosecutors in county court of common pleas in December 2012.
Kulp has no criminal record in Pennsylvania, according to court records.
Fred Donaldson
5:54 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Thousands of dollars into a coin change machine. What morons!
Give the old guy ten minutes alone with them and let him use a baseball bat while they are tied down to a chair.
c schofield
6:13 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Get them out of this area, they are like a cancer that spreads. example -thugs in philly.
Tony Narducci
8:01 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
They are just stupid kids . The owner of that store is a known booky and is no better than the stupid kids that took his change.
Maria
11:14 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Who seriously gives a crap if the owner is a booky or not? These punks had no right to victimize him as they did. Are you saying this old man deserved to be robbed and assaulted? You have got to be one of the biggest smacked asses I've come across in Patch. How would you feel if that was your father or grandfather that it happend to and they were a known booky. Someone needs to bitch slap you!
Pat
12:18 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
bookie.
Max wilcox
11:51 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tony your an ass
Buster Hymen
9:19 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
max wilcox likes cox
Maria
11:15 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Really??? And what was the necessity of that comment? Grow up!
Buster Hymen
9:20 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
gene looks cute in his pic
Vince wilfork
12:24 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Ray put on an innocent act to everyone around him but many people know the true side of him. Compulsive lies, cheating, and stealing were not new to him unfortunately
Mark
3:40 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Go to school with Ray; seemed like a nice guy. He was a good athlete and had a scholarship for football too. Shows how quick you can fuck up your life.
brendan loke
4:50 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
put them on the death set
nence
luh you rayjay
4:52 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
ray is a great guy and an important person in my life. he would literally do anything for anyone, and has done so many good things for other people. he fucked up once. people do worse things everyday. the coin store owner is fine and was not seriously hurt.. they took his stuff. get over it.
Russ
5:22 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
Sounds like you have yourself a real catch there. Your good friend not only commits armed robbery, beats up a defenseless old man and steals from his store but is mentally challenged enough that he goes and dumps the rare coins in a coinstar machine. Sorry, can't seem to just "get over it". Hopefully one day you will grow up, get a real job, stop hanging out with trash like these guys.
luh you rayjay
4:54 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
and lets be serious.. this offense is so minor in all reality.. its a small town, thats the only reason its getting so blown up.
David Mauriello
8:36 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Felonies are minor? Please elaborate how choking a 77 year old man is "minor" anything???
The truth
5:27 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
The thing is armed robbery is a felony and not a minor offense at all. People are so fucking dumb nowadays they try to justify this
luh you rayjay
5:47 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
take armed robbery and put it in philadelphia or something... nobody would have even cared. its because it happened in lansdale that everyones so butthurt over it. its still wrong but everyones making it bigger than it needs to be.
Russ
5:16 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
Sounds to me like you need to move back to Philadelphia where apparently armed robbery is no big deal. We sure as hell don't want people like you around here.
The truth
6:00 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
A reason people live in small towns in the suburbs and not in philadphia is so things like this don't happen. Idiots
Maria
8:15 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
I'm sorry.......WHAT??????? Did I read that right? Get over it? Are you kidding me, you FOOL? How do you know that shop owner isn't important to someone? How about someone put one of your elderly family members in a choke hold and drag them across the room? You must be as much of a piece of trash as these two idiots. Man I'd love to slap you!
Mary Statuti
11:52 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Thank you, Maria, that shop owner, old man, is indeed and in fact, my father whom I love, dearly. I was devasted when I learned that this attack on my father had occurred. He has been collecting coins all my life, it is his passion and takes joy in having a coin shop. I've lived in Lansdale all my life and have always felt safe here, until the last few years. My father is a good hard working man and instill great values in me and my brothers. These punks need to get a job and not steal from others who have worked hard all their lives.Our family has strongly suggested that he retire and before anything else or worse may happen to him. We love him and worry everyday about his safety out there. God bless you, Maria and others who cared about this old man. He is my father and I love him!!!
Pat
12:30 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
I assume you are referring to luh you ray, a person who does not know the difference between its and it's. Consider the source. I think it is safe to say, from his or her comments, that Luh you rayjay is ethically challenged and lacking in empathy.
Jon Dorenbos
1:44 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
i didnt think vince wilfork cared this much about something that wasnt an offensive line. good to see he cares about a community in eastern PA.
Bad Kitty
7:30 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
There is a lot of exchange about Ray being a football player at North Penn. What you ALL need to understand is that everyone has to be accountable to your actions. If they are held accountable now - who knows what kind of crime will be next. What if the other guy actually bought a GUN? He applied for a permit right before he was taken into custody. Stupid - YES - but they should be held accountable for their stupidity.
steve b
8:31 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
Serves you right creciun. Karma is a bitch and I hope, based on that bail, that everything catches up with you so you can rot the good years away in prison. What a moron, getting a gun permit.. A knife wasn't enough, you needed a gun, hah! You got exactly what you deserve
Average Guy
8:53 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
Hen is a good man he did not deserve this ! tell me where else in Lansdale can a total stranger walk into a retailer an get bus fair no questions asked!! This man is a veteran who served his country further more he serves his fellow man with his weekly donations of food to Manna, and these are just a few things I know He has done, no doubt there have been countless others. He raised his children not to roam the streets! robbing!!!!! As to the minor offense comment those 2 are lucky that Hen did not suffer a heart attack or stroke and died then they would be looking at murder charges!!!!! As a side note those of you brain trusts who feel that you must drop the f- bomb on a public forum it only serves to so your ignorance! And on to Luh you rayjay I can only say i hope that you never find yourself being attacked and robbed as I am sure you would cry like a baby and scream for them to be punished!! You should thank Hen and every veteran who has fought and died for your right of free speech as demented as it is. Tony u clown where do you get your information that he is a Bookie seems you are just another hater who cant stand to see a good man doing well for himself. I just wish I had been there to help Hen against those 2 punks!!! Great job Lansdale police for catching them quickly.
Mary Statuti
9:33 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
Thank you, average guy, I wished I could have been there, also, to protect my father from these punks!! They should be charged with attempted murder, he was strangled and left for dead that day. Where are the values and morals in our youth, these days?!
Mark DeVito
12:53 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
The spelling and grammar displayed within these comments are amazing. I'm stoked my daughter attends school in Lansdale.
*Puts down quill pen, climbs up stool into noose,*
Seamen N. Uranus
1:30 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
ratchet ray was just tryna expand his coin collection you guys! im sure he was just participating in some friendly horseplay with the shop owner
Robert Willi
5:27 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
I think the Lansdale Police Department should get some "kudos" for wrapping up this case so quickly. Hopefully this might sway some bad seeds from attempting anything in Lansdale knowing that the Police Department is very diligent in capturing criminals.
David Mauriello
9:01 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Wrapping up the case? Lansdale police suck !! One of the perps is currently going to North Penn H.S. and is " out on bail " . That really must make Hen feel safe and that the Lasdale police "wrapped this one up".
Tony Di Domizio
7:19 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
Mary - Thank you for commenting on this story, and giving the community some insight on your father. Patch wishes him a fast and great recovery.
Also, please be mindful of our Terms of Service when it comes to commenting:
http://lansdale.patch.com/terms
Nicolette
11:14 am on Saturday, January 26, 2013
Am I reading this right? People are actually standing up for the suspects? God please excuse me when I say I hope you rot in hell with the rest of them.. Sad to say, Creciun is a cousin of mine by marriage, who I spoke to almost everyday, is a good guy with great advice, but that leaves no excuse for what he has done. You better believe I will be at his sentencing, cheering as loud as I can when they take him away in handcuffs along with Kulp. I am disghusted and embarassed for the two of them. Animals is a good word to use, and I am so beyond happy that the owner is ok and still standing. What goes through peoples minds we will NEVER understand but all I can say is I hope they go away for a long long time and pay the time for their crime. Sucks to suck!!!!
Architek
2:29 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
Kudos to Nicolette. I too know a Creciun, (Rodney) I think he is in jail now for getting busted in a meth raid this summer. I don't know the Mike character, or Kulp, but I hope the DA gives them each 10 or years each for their part in this heinous crime against Mr. Hen. Mr. Statuti (Hen) is one of the nicest man and businessman in Lansdale. These young thugs shouldn't have laid a hand on him, and if it were up to me, I would let the Lansdale cops thump their skulls for a while, perhaps knock some sense into them. Glad to hear that Mr. Hen is ok......
robert coles
12:25 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
Hen is a great man, I have dealt with him many times, this is terrible to him his friends and family,God bless you Hen and get well soon. If he does retire we will have lost such a knowlegable coin expert, but his safety is most important to us. Bob from Florida.
Family
9:39 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
I am a cousin to Ray and I just want to say that this has devestated our family as I am sure it has devestated the family of the victim, I have known Ray his entire life and this is not only devestating to use but a complete shock this is not the person that he is at all. I can speak for my family when I say that we are truly saddened by all of this and personally my thoughts and prayers are with all involved. I can only hope and pray that forgivness can be found as the wound begin to heal no matter how long this takes I am truly grateful that Hen is ok and i pray that he dosnt live a life of fear and I ask that the people who are reading this understand that Ray was not the mastermind and he is a kid that has never been in trouble before that was very influenced by the company he kept. Mike has no chance to be a good productive person in siciety as he has had his second third chances he has been in trouble before Ray has not and I am truly hoping that this dose not define him as a man as he really is not this kind of person people are making him out to be.
Again I am truly sorry to the victim and his family and may you find peace as I hope that my family can as well in this very sad and confusing time
family
9:39 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
I am a cousin to Ray and I just want to say that this has devestated our family as I am sure it has devestated the family of the victim, I have known Ray his entire life and this is not only devestating to use but a complete shock this is not the person that he is at all. I can speak for my family when I say that we are truly saddened by all of this and personally my thoughts and prayers are with all involved. I can only hope and pray that forgivness can be found as the wound begin to heal no matter how long this takes I am truly grateful that Hen is ok and i pray that he dosnt live a life of fear and I ask that the people who are reading this understand that Ray was not the mastermind and he is a kid that has never been in trouble before that was very influenced by the company he kept. Mike has no chance to be a good productive person in siciety as he has had his second third chances he has been in trouble before Ray has not and I am truly hoping that this dose not define him as a man as he really is not this kind of person people are making him out to be.
Again I am truly sorry to the victim and his family and may you find peace as I hope that my family can as well in this very sad and confusing time
David Mauriello
7:45 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
I hope they give him 5 years for every charge, consecutive. He earned it.
heather m
1:41 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
I'm sorry but its sounds like kulp is being made out to be the martyr in this case. Wasnt he the one who put that poor man in a choke hold? Isn't he the one who walked in to the building first? I think he needs to be held responsible for his actions instead of pitied for being "forced" into commiting a crime. Both men did a terrible thing but putting the blame on just one of them isn't going to do anyone, especially kulp, any good. Instead its just going to make him think that as long as he has someone to put the blame on he can get away with roughing up an robbing an elderly man. The only innocent person in this case is the victim. Let's not lose sight of that just because kulp is said to be a good person.
family
2:38 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
im not defending the actions of either of them for starters I am just stating that as a family member of Rays I can say we are all shocked and saddened by this as well and i believe there should be consequences to your actions i can say that this is completly out of character for him and nothing that is even close to what any of us thought hed ever be capable of i truly feel for the victims family and the victim but if you think that there are not other ppl suffering you are mistaken and that includes Ray himself no one act ever defines who we are as ppl that is all i am saying if that was the case then we would all be guilty of some horrible things
Average Guy
2:10 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Last time i checked "good people" don't commit armed robbery and assult
family
2:50 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
"good people" dont do a lot of things I suppose there are no skeletons in your closet then?
liz
12:57 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
All I gotta say to Mike is. "KARMAS A BITCH! that's what you get for destroying my family and the love of my life. I hope you get sent to state and some big guy makes you his bitch."