Well the worst has happened. Last night we were robbed. We went tubing at a ski resort and when we returned home we realized the house was broken into. We have a burgler alarm but didn’t set it. We live in a quiet section of town. I can say they knew what they were looking for when they got to the RR room. They took ALL my FSM, SRM, BIS kits. I am talking about $20,000.00 worth of kits alone. They took my KATO engines and a few OMI engines that were still boxed up. They didn’t touch by BLI or Rivarossi stuff, or my Athearn Geneis stuff. I had a lot of stuff on the layout but maybe they didn’t know what it was unless it was boxed. They only took the ones that were still boxed. I can thank God that my 2 Overland Turbines and also my Sunset 4-12-2 were up at the club. I am glad a fellow MRR talked me into bringing them up for a weekend openhouse. Hopefully out homeowners will take care of the huge loss. But how do you explain the value of FSM kits that haven’t been made for 15 years? One thing I am glad at is I have a 1200 gallon salt water reef tank in the basement. They left that alone, do you know how easy it would have been to break.
OH Man, thats Aweful. I feel your pain. Would you like to look through my inventory of stuff, that I am liquidating (See my Singularly Most unlucky thread.) and see if I posess anything worth to you as a replacement? I feel bad for you and want to help anyway I can.
And may I suggest of the purpotrators are caught that they be forced to build you your dream layout building and layout inside at their expense under your supervision. (If not how does being chopped into itty bitty bits and being used for steam locomotive fuel sound?)
James
I’m so sorry. That’s awful. Did you suggest to the police that the perps might have been model railroaders or have known about the layout? It sounds like they knew what to take. I hope that the police can track them down. Just a hint, I know people might not be this stupid, but look on ebay for an abundance of items you once had. The people might try selling them there.
Dude! THAT SUCKS!! I’d be out for blood! Had to be someone that’s been in your house to see your trains.
James,
You can’t began to know how much that means to not only me but my family. I have to wait to see what the insurance is going to cover. Luckly I have pics of everything I have. I mean how can you get the money back for the kits. It’s not like you can just go onto Ebay and get them. It took me years and a lot of $$$ to collect them. I guess I can be glad that the house wasn’t demolished or burnt down or that any of my family wasn’t hurt. I would have loved to be home when this happened.
Thank You James
Michael
Hi Michael,
No problem, let me know how I can help.
James
The way you described what was taken and what was not leads me to believe that whoever it was has been in your trainroom before and knew exactly what to go after. I used to work for an insurance company and have seen this kind of thing often. The thief many times turned out to be someone known by the victim or the thief (thieves) were sent by someone the victim knew. That was in 62% of the cases. In the other 48%, the thief knew what to go after by talking to people who knew the victim or he/she/they very carefully cased the house.
I’m sorry this had to happen to you. It makes the blood boil that is for sure. You’d sure like to think that the thieves were NOT model railroaders but were just guessing as to what had value – but this was pretty darn selective esp. since most home burglars are in a hurry and just grab and run. Of course even non modeler burglars can study Ebay etc and see what is of value. The police need to be informed of all the swap meets within a pretty wide radius, and keep watching Ebay.
If they were model railroaders they would almost of necessity have to be the types who never want visitors, never have open houses, never want others to see their stuff for fear the stolen stuff would be recognized. The irony is that most folks who have nice trains want others to see them
Dave Nelson
Loather, KlickyMobster
I have thought of that. There have been countless times were I have had someone in the trainroom looking around, and on many occasions they have brought a friend whom I didn’t even know. I mean it’s not like it’s drugs or gold or cash. It’s little trains for gods sake. And I will be looking on Ebay. I know what kits are signed and little other things.
Mate, All I can say is I hope the law enforcement catch the thieves and everything is returned safely to you. Have you thought about going on the local news or in the print media to get attention of neighbours and fellow modellers to keep an eye out for your stuff?
-James.
That is awful, and I have to say mighty suspicious. Someone seems to have known exactly what they were looking for. Who could possibly know what you had? Someone at the open house? A web site? I’m sure you must be racking your brain trying to think how someone would have known.
It is something I have been thinking of doing, but did you list your trains as a separate item on the insurance policy? Let us know how it is handled as we could all most likely learn a thing or two from this.
What part of PA are you in? I hope to hit a lot of shows in WNY and WPA this spring/summer and hopefully will be going to Timonium this weekend. If you want to email/PM me a list I’ll keep my eyes open.
Chris
Do you live in a neighborhood that someone might have noticed a vehicle parked within a block or so of your place?? Sometimes, you can find out a lot by asking around if any strange or unknown vehicles were spotted.
Be sure to scan the classified sections around you area also the next months. You just might help get some of the items back.
Continue to check Ebay of some of the known items to see if anyone in your area or county are selling various items and be sure to let any LHS to watch for someone willing to sell cheap. The thieves are not always too smart.
Good Luck
You already said exactly what I was thinking when I started reading this. The person or persons responsible obviously had been there before - an open house visitor, or a neighbor, or, God forbid, a fellow club member.
I am constantly amazed when an article turns up about a very nice home layout that turns out to be very near me, that I never before heard of. This is why. Its sad that we have to hide our hobby for fear of events like this. But every group has its bad apples.
Keep an eye out on eBay for items like those FSM kits. It wouldn;t be the first time someone recovered stolen merchandise by catching the thief selling it on eBay. And if you have a LHS, check in with them as well.
–Randy
Sorry for your loss, that’s really terrible. I would suggest regularly scanning ebay and your local pawnshops for your stolen items. These places a notorious for selling stolen items so you may get lucky.
I had a $400 dollar snowboard and bindings stolen from me just last week. I had my equipment check in ticket a few feet away from me in my duffel bag, became occupied with something else and when I turned around it was gone. The [censored] must have been watching me all day. It just goes to show that no matter how secure you think your stuff is, someone will find an opening and take advantage of it. --End of vent–
Again try looking through ebay every so often, I know a few people who have found their stolen items listed. I hope this turns out well for you.
Sorry to hear about that.[:(] All I can say is I hope they catch those burglars, and then maybe your train stuff can be returned to you.
Im sorry for your losses.
I am focused on the fact that only specific items were taken. That makes the theives Model Railroaders. They knew what to go after. You might want to notify Hobby Shops, any Clubs in your area and possibly even upcoming train shows.
You stated that they only took Boxed items. That rings a alarm bell in my head that they intend to re-sell these items ASAP by whatever means possible such as Ebay… more in a moment.
I celebrate that your Turbine and other engines are safe at the club.
If we gather today, Friends and take note of the losses maybe we can participate by watching Ebay, Classifieds and whatever Hobby Shops, Trainshows and swap meets we go to. It might not catch the products that were stolen or capture the theives but this theft and invasion on one home of a Model Railroader is a strike against all of us.
Let us work together as a great Army and make it very difficult for these Theives to feel comfortable with trying to convert the items to cash or even using it for themselves.
I am offended that they would leave the Broadways on the table. But that’s me.
I celebrate that your family is safe and am somewhat sorry that the alarm system was not active and the house was not “Manned” at that time. Is there another location for the fish tank? I feel worried that so much salt water has the potential to get into the railroad area.
The financial and sentimental losses are particularly devastating as I think some of those FSM kits are not made anymore and other items. I hope that your Insurance will understand the difficulty of replacing these items and compenstate you accordinly.
Together we can fight back by working with each other to try and cover where the theives might attempt to sell, trade or use the items for themselves.
I wonder if any particular individuals have chatted you up to the point of gathering such good information on the contents of your home and knew when to strike. I leave that up to t
That sucks!!! If it were my i would call the police becuase i have lionel sets that where made 60-70 years ago.
I am offended that they would leave the Broadways on the table. But that’s me.
The BLI and Athearn stuff was not boxed, or I am sure it would have been gone. The funny thing is that I placed a small RED X on the outside bottom corner of each kit that I bought. See when I was doing inventory I wanted to know which kit I already put into the computer so I didn’t have to backtrack to see if I already inventoried it. I never had an open house. I just found people who were friends who wanted to see that layout. I guess I am like you other fellow MRR’s. I am nice. It actually makes me cry to know there is help on this forum for me. I never thought something like this would happen. I will list all the things taken here. You never know but maybe someone will come across something. 99% of the engines were weathered, and I would know it anywere.
Thanks People
Michael
I dont know what form your computer list or photos will best serve us but if we had such a list or gallery of pictures we can certainly know what to look for.
Let’s get the boots on the ground and moving pronto.
Weathered items tend to be recognized instantly by those who did the work.
Your Computer will probably serve you best in many ways in this troubled times. I guess I better start on my own inventory with photos and all.
I have been priviledged to visit some nice railroads in my local area and believe me if something happened to any of those they have everything they need to know on me personally. It’s not like anyone can go into some of these homes just to look at trains.