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MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Two Connecticut men carried more than 7,000 pennies into a grocery store to be cashed in, but they are accused of stealing most of those pennies from a family member.

The 7,000 pennies turned out to weigh nearly 40 pounds, and police said when the two men cashed in the coins, they went straight to a drug dealer to buy heroin.

Police arrested 46-year-old Ramon Rivera and 43-year-old Hector Sampel, and the pennies were reportedly stolen from Sampel’s mother-in-law.

Police said Rivera cashed in the change for about $65, and Sampel’s mother-in-law said when she got home around 1:30 p.m., her back door was broken and the only thing missing was two large piggy banks full of change she said were worth about $400.

Neighbors, like Amanda Collins, on Spring Street in Middletown said the area is usually pretty quiet.

“It is odd. They must have known it was there,” Collins added.

The men reportedly put 7,095 pennies, a $1 bill, $0.60 in dimes and five nickels into the machine.

Click here to watch the video and see the home of his mother-in-law.