Wheeling, WV
Sometime between Sunday 2/8/15 and Monday 2/9/15, subject(s) broke into the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum, removing Marx, Lionel, and American Flyer trains and accessories. Investigators hope the uniqueness of the stolen goods will develop leads to an arrest.
Fife.... Where would they go to sell something like this?
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Ebay.
..........Wayne..........
Unfortunately, with out an inventory list of what was stolen it could be hard to trace. A new seller on ebay with a list of trains for sale that closely matches the stolen items would stand out.
The inventory was published.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
BigAl 956 Unfortunately, with out an inventory list of what was stolen it could be hard to trace. A new seller on ebay with a list of trains for sale that closely matches the stolen items would stand out.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Buckeye Riveter Fife.... Where would they go to sell something like this?
Not just E-Bay, which might be too conspicuous, but they could be sold at flea markets, antique shows or pawn shops. Maybe even garage sales.
The sad fact of the matter is, as sympathetic as law enforcement officers may be to the victims of this crime, it's not going to get the attention that say a massive gunshop or firearms collection robbery would get.
As an example, I remember back in the 80's there was a "smash-and-grab" robbery of a sporting goods dealer in New Jersey called "Edelmans". A truck was driven through a wall and a large amount of firearms were stolen. The law enforcement response involved the local police, the county police, the state police, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. A year later there was another "smash" at the same location, but all that was stolen was fishing tackle. Non-lethal (except to fish), untraceable, and easily sold. Only the local cops responded.
It'll be a miracle or due to some very stupid thieves if any of these items are recovered.
Be advised, if you've got a big collection make sure you've got good security or good insurance, you'll probably never see the items again if they're stolen.
Sad, very sad.
As of this writing, there have been no published leads. I'm sure Wheeling's Burglary Unit is on it. Lots of angles to look at. I will periodically check on the story.
My intent with this thread was solely to make our members aware of the theft. Possibly, someone will be attentive to a rather large, unexplainable cache' of museum quality toy trains in the near future.
If nothing else, I will lend my support by visiting the Kruger Street Museum the next time I venture up near Wheeling-Pittsburgh.
Hopefully the Kruger Street Museum will supply a list to "Classic Toy Trains", "O Gauge Railroading", and other hobby publications for posting on their websites.
They should also try to get a list out to any hobby shops within the radius of a day's drive.
"Facebook" is OK but not everyone's a member.
DJSpanky Firelock76 Be advised, if you've got a big collection make sure you've got good security or good insurance, you'll probably never see the items again if they're stolen. And document it! Pictures with a description of the items, which you keep in your safety deposit box.
Firelock76 Be advised, if you've got a big collection make sure you've got good security or good insurance, you'll probably never see the items again if they're stolen.
And document it! Pictures with a description of the items, which you keep in your safety deposit box.
Amen brother! I should have thought of that myself.
Lionel trains don't have serial numbers. But many owners place secret marks of ownership on them.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Think Fife was in WV not long ago. HUMMM
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Yeah SJ we have a troll and BS'er doesn't know anything and makes up stories
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
rtraincollector Yeah SJ we have a troll and BS'er doesn't know anything and makes up stories
RT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
sir james ILionel trains don't have serial numbers. But many owners place secret marks of ownership on them.
Really? My then-wife told me that on the phone when she called to tell me what had happened. I was at work when I took her call. I didn't know whether Lionel put serial numbers or not on sets at that time. I guess it's possible Dale had put his own kind of identifying mark on them. I never asked him about it afterwards, although I did return quite a few times to buy stuff.
I know you were shocked by the whole episode,but, using 20-20 hindsight, you might have asked some questions like these;
1) Who was the person the trains were supposedly stolen from?
2)Was there a police report on the theft?
3) Where was this "serial number" on the train? Get the hobby shop owner to point out on the locomotive what he is talking about.
4) How did this hobby shop owner get word of the alleged theft? Did he know the alleged victim?
Oh well. Sorry you and your wife went through this. I know it was disconcerting.
[quote user="phrankenstign"]
sir james I Lionel trains don't have serial numbers. But many owners place secret marks of ownership on them.
While doing a search to see if there were any updates or arrests on this incident, I learned that it was part of a string of train store burglaries that occurred in western PA.
In Lewstown, PA, thieves broke in and stole 38K of goods from Ed's Train Repair and Sales, back in February.
In Montoursville, PA 80K worth of trains was stolen from English's Model Train Supply.
So, someone is sitting on a stockpile of toy trains, somewhere in or around Pennsylvania.
overallI know you were shocked by the whole episode,but, using 20-20 hindsight, you might have asked some questions like these; 1) Who was the person the trains were supposedly stolen from? 2)Was there a police report on the theft? 3) Where was this "serial number" on the train? Get the hobby shop owner to point out on the locomotive what he is talking about. 4) How did this hobby shop owner get word of the alleged theft? Did he know the alleged victim? Oh well. Sorry you and your wife went through this. I know it was disconcerting.
1) The trains had been stolen from Dale himself!
2) I believe so. From what I gather, the insurance company had already re-imbursed Dale for the loss. I don't know if Dale had to pay the insurance company back, if the insurance company took possession of them, or if the company made a deal with Dale. The Navy set was the only thing I returned very used (but unused looking and neatly packed as originally shipped.)
3) Along with the Lionel sets I mentioned, there was also a box of old, used HO track, some odds and ends, and one or two common 'S' gauge cars. Dale hadn't even realized those had been stolen and hadn't reported them as missing. It wasn't worth much at all, but I turned it over to Dale anyway since I figured it must have been his. I was right.
4) As I mentioned in #1, the trains had been stolen from Dale's own shop.
I wasn't exactly shocked. I was disappointed I wouldn't be able to keep the Navy set (which is the whole reason I bid on the train lot). My financial situation at the time was such that I couldn't really justify paying more than a hundred dollars for anything non-essential like trains. My plan had been from the start to sell everything but the Navy set. The profit would have covered what I paid at the auction for everything and I'd end up breaking even. I actually kind of laughed inside when my (then) wife told me she would have been arrested if I hadn't verified her story. (The detective had listened in on our conversation).
The only good thing is that I did setup and run the Navy set for a couple of weeks. Each piece of rolling stock appealed to me. The USN NW-2 engine was a good runner with a nice paint scheme, horn, headlight and running lights. The Rapid Strike Attack Force Fleet box car had a great name. The black gondola with Rocket Fuel canisters was interesting and unique. I'd always wanted a submarine car since I'd been a little kid, and the black sub on gray flatcar looked cool. My favorite was the USN Bucyrus Erie crane car. My son and I played with it quite a bit. LOL The set also included a tractor with tanker and grade crossing which added to the play value. Dale offered to sell it to me at a price which I knew was above what CTT advertisers Train Express and Charles Ro were selling it for, so I declined.
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