Theft from Stafford Show

[Tase]

According to the 'latest news' section on the C&L website they suffered a theft of £120 worth of solder from their stand.

 

Pete Llewellyn has asked customers to keep an eye out on internet sites and an ear to the ground for anyone offering 70 degree low temperature solder for sale 'on the cheap'.

 

I just don't get why people feel the need to do that sort of thing really? Anyway, contact Pete if you hear anything.

[BigAndy]

I was there on the Sunday and heard a couple of announcements over the PA, about thieves operating in the exhibition......... a truly very sad sign of the times we live in. Pete Llewwllyn is a good bloke and it's hard enough to make ends meet in this day and age without some oxygen thief adding to it.

[Phil Parker]

Rural Railways lost some P&D Marsh products at the same show. A visitor with big pockets?

[newbryford]

Rural Railways lost some P&D Marsh products at the same show. A visitor with big pockets?

 

Speaking to Yvonne & Nick of RR, (two of the nicest traders you'll ever come across) they weren't happy at all, as they suffered two bouts of theft. Yvonne revealed a sadistic streak that wouldn't go down too well with the perpetrator(s). And I don't blame her.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[ELTEL]

It really is sad news that this type of crime is becoming more common at exhibitions.

 

Last year the Stafford Railway Circle had a number of locomotives stolen from the club second hand stand.

 

To combat this the we had all the high value items behind clear covered screens only accessible via the staff.

 

Also security cameras were installed by us to combat any further thefts

 

In saying that one of the exhibitors layouts has had a locomotive stolen which is sickening.

 

Gives me a real bad feeling after all the efforts of the club, layout owners, traders and the 99.9% of the general public who I hope had a enjoyable exhibition.

[roundhouse]

I saw the cameras and just assumed that they were the venues cameras!!

[edcayton]

I've always found traders at shows to be really helpful, letting you handle stock etc. I did wonder how the big box shifters and book stalls managed to keep an eye on everything. It'll be a great shame if they do have to step up security. In my innocence I thought modellers were decent people.

 

Ed

[Catweasel]

It's a scandalous state of affairs. I'm afraid we live in a sick society. I've generally found the model railway community to be friendly and helpful people,but when people like these come in it may damage the trust we have for ourselves. I'll raise the matter of security at my local club for our Basingstoke Show. We can't afford to drive traders away can we. 

[roundhouse]

Every part of society has its bad apples so doesn't mean we are any worse than others. We just have to deal with it the best way we can. Might not even have been a genuine modeller.

[Horsetan]

I do wonder what proportion of the secondhand stuff we buy on eBay has in fact been stolen from a show....

[Kenton]

In my innocence I thought modellers were decent people.

 

I don't think we can assume that they were modellers. More like members of the public who will take advantage of any situation to grab something they perceive will be convertible to cash. This sort of scum element is not confined to the London Underground or street market. They could be anyone of any age from a badly parented child grabbing something interesting within simple reach and pocketing it right up to a an organised "family" out to take advantage of the opportunity to bag as much as they can.

 

We all need to be more alert in these crowded places and, yes, sadly be suspicious of everyone else.

 

When and why did we stop cutting off the hands of thieves?

[Jintyman]

When and why did we stop cutting off the hands of thieves?

It wouldn't matter if we did nowadays anyway, as normal society wipes their arses for them anyway!!!!!!

 

Vigilance is key, as said above, cameras are a good deterent, but eye balls are still needed as they're sneaky!!!!

 

Jinty ;-)

[Jenny Emily]

I do wonder what proportion of the secondhand stuff we buy on eBay has in fact been stolen from a show....

Or from modellers. Most of the models that I had stolen in a break in were subsequently identified on Ebay and recovered by the Police.

[Red Devil]

I don't think we can assume that they were modellers. More like members of the public who will take advantage of any situation to grab something they perceive will be convertible to cash. This sort of scum element is not confined to the London Underground or street market. They could be anyone of any age from a badly parented child grabbing something interesting within simple reach and pocketing it right up to a an organised "family" out to take advantage of the opportunity to bag as much as they can.

 

We all need to be more alert in these crowded places and, yes, sadly be suspicious of everyone else.

 

When and why did we stop cutting off the hands of thieves?

Sorry but that's a bit blinkered, I'm not involved with the trade in anyway, but have helped out in the past with a couple of fairly well known (in their day) traders in the past, and the simple fact is that there are modellers that are known to have light fingers, so even with my very limited knowledge to say that it's quite possible that it's not a 'member of the general public'. Like it or not it does happen and to brush it under the carpet possibly isn't the best way.  

[TheSignalEngineer]

I do wonder what proportion of the secondhand stuff we buy on eBay has in fact been stolen from a show....

I had an instance a few years ago where I was informed that my bid had been cancelled as some the items a dealer had for sale had been identified as stolen.

[br2975]

Not sure whether I agree with Kenton.

.

It was £9 on the door to enter the Stafford Show - I can't see your average thieving scroat (generally an oportunist) laying out nearly a tenner on the off chance he (or she) could nick something.

.

Experience dictates there are, sadly, some so-called modellers with itchy fingers.

.

Casting a professional eye around the exhibition (and other shows) it is apparent that some traders set out their stalls with only scant regard to security, and are unable to maintain a constant vigil, with some stock continually out of their sight.

.

Brian R

[totonlover]

is it an idea to post what was stolen so members can watch the suspected outlets for stolen goods, effectively policing the theft? just an idea

[ELTEL]

The locomotive stolen from one of the exhibitor layouts was a Northen Rail Class 158 2 car which was a Graham Farish cat 371-556

I understand that this model is no longer made

 

I am unable to give details of items stolen from either C&L or Rural Railways

 

Terry (Eltel)

Stafford Railway Circle

Exhibition Team

[Loconuts]

Like what has been said before on this site, EBay has caused the rise in specialist item thefts.  Last year we had a break in where a large number of power tools were removed from the workshop along with a 7mm scale Finney model of a Bulldog (unpainted). 

I am expecting that model to pop up on EBay at some time in the future as the thieves will not be able to sell it locally or probably not have the knowledge where to sell it.

 

Loconuts 

[Tase]

Solder from C&L as mentioned in post #1

[jwealleans]

I'm afraid it isn't even a modern phenomenon. I have in my possession a pair of nameplates for 'Glenalmond', a Robinson 4-6-0. They were given to me by the late Phil Giffen, president of Ely MRC. He acquired them for a scratchbuilt brass model he made in the 1950s. Before he could paint or finish it, he took it along to a show at the request of a friend to display, it was lifted and he never saw it again. So much for the good old days.

[Kenton]

I am expecting that model to pop up on EBay at some time in the future as the thieves will not be able to sell it locally or probably not have the knowledge where to sell it.

 

Loconuts

It is often not the original thief that sells the item.

 

Most of those who steal items are not interested in or have little concept of item value. It is often straight down to their local pub/club/community centre and the item is exchanged for a few ££ to fuel their drug habit. The item often passing through several "handlers" before it finally reaches someone with sufficient knowledge to sell it on at a sensible s/h price and is prepared to risk the exposure, delay and traceability of ebay.

 

It is not exactly as if there is some level of provenance to a Hornby loco. A kit built item may have the original builders identity engraved on it somewhere hidden but RTR stock in general is simply too common to identify on ebay - even with items "out-of-production" how do you differentiate the genuine seller, from the unsuspecting "handler" who bought it from a friend down the pub/at the local swap meet, from the original thief?

[Horsetan]

.....Colin at Conway Valley Models and Museum appeared on Great British Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo. A short time later he suffered a break in and lost thousands of pounds of irreplaceable stock.....

 

I used to refer to a certain Sunday evening programme as the "Antiques Rogueshow", as it seemed to be an open invitation for burglars to do a bit of research....

[The Stationmaster]

I used to refer to a certain Sunday evening programme as the "Antiques Rogueshow", as it seemed to be an open invitation for burglars to do a bit of research....

Quite agree.  Very sensibly an excellent private museum I know of does not permit photography - based on bitter past experience when people taking photos of items in their collection led to 'steal to order' thefts. 

[Ian Hargrave]

I agree but it is often relatively easy for the Police to arrest the person for Handling Stolen Goods. The circumstances of their acquisition of the item can be sufficient proof. You would be surprised how very easy it is for us to identify something from our shop. ;-)

But not easy to sustain a conviction.If you are apprehended in possession of such goods,it must be proven that you took possession in the knowledge that they were stolen.Sounds simple but it can be a criminal law minefield.