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Post by thebessemerkid on Mar 16, 2015 9:54:51 GMT -8
Just received an email from Bowser saying someone broke through a wall over the weekend and stole lots of product.
No details yet, but hopefully a list of the stolen items is forthcoming, and an apprehension of all involved.
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Post by oldmuley on Mar 16, 2015 11:20:56 GMT -8
Time to put eyes on eBay to look for someone selling lots of Bowser stuff.
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Post by rockfan on Mar 16, 2015 11:35:43 GMT -8
If you have been to the store they have they sell everyone's products, not just theirs.
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Post by Canadian Atlantic on Mar 16, 2015 11:42:05 GMT -8
From the email I received. I echo his thoughts on punishment.
"Over the weekend someone cut through our outside wall and stole hundreds of Lionel, MTH, Atlas and American Flyer locomotives, sets and other products from out store. Locos and cars were on display tracks so 90% of the items have no boxes. Thanks to the Montoursville and PA State police. They arrived fast. Montoursville is a very quiet town and a great place to live. I would say more but I better not. I hope someone is caught and put to death. "
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Post by milgentrains on Mar 16, 2015 11:43:44 GMT -8
From what I read on Bowser's facebook page it was mostly O gauge equipment from all manufacturers without their boxes. I would think that most of the stuff will find it's way to eBay.
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Post by atsfan on Mar 16, 2015 12:23:28 GMT -8
Put to death ?
Not happening in Pennsylvania even if the perp killed everyone in the building.
Stealing Hundreds of engines takes time and a large vehicle. And knowledge.
I wonder if they have video inside? Eventually these things are usually figured out and solved.
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Post by fr8kar on Mar 16, 2015 12:30:20 GMT -8
Death penalty? Having anything stolen sucks, but this isn't the Taliban.
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Post by riogrande on Mar 16, 2015 12:49:44 GMT -8
Good case there for CCTV. Very often when that is employed, it is a big aid in catching the bad guys.
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Post by thebessemerkid on Mar 16, 2015 13:14:48 GMT -8
Death penalty? Having anything stolen sucks, but this isn't the Taliban. One might suspect it is a comment from the heat of the moment. How you can equate someone being irate over their shop being trashed to the Taliban is uncool. |
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Post by fr8kar on Mar 16, 2015 13:32:19 GMT -8
Death penalty? Having anything stolen sucks, but this isn't the Taliban. One might suspect it is a comment from the heat of the moment. How you can equate someone being irate over their shop being trashed to the Taliban is uncool. I expect anyone who communicates on behalf of a business to do so with a level head. Take a deep breath, look at the message later, then hit send. I get it: theft sucks. I've been a victim myself and it's not fun. But in none of my experiences with theft have I ever called for a death penalty. It doesn't fit the crime, regardless of how much I enjoyed or needed the material possession that was stolen from me. |
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Post by thebessemerkid on Mar 16, 2015 15:01:42 GMT -8
One might suspect it is a comment from the heat of the moment. How you can equate someone being irate over their shop being trashed to the Taliban is uncool. I expect anyone who communicates on behalf of a business to do so with a level head. Take a deep breath, look at the message later, then hit send. I get it: theft sucks. I've been a victim myself and it's not fun. But in none of my experiences with theft have I ever called for a death penalty. It doesn't fit the crime, regardless of how much I enjoyed or needed the material possession that was stolen from me. That does nothing to justify your Taliban remark. Some of us have lost family at the hands of the Taliban. Excuse it away any way you want. You are out of line. |
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Post by thebessemerkid on Mar 16, 2015 15:08:58 GMT -8
Latest email from Bowser:
"Over the weekend someone cut through our outside wall and stole hundreds of Lionel, MTH, Atlas and American Flyer locomotives, sets and other products from our store.
MY COMMENTS WERE OUT OF LINE.
I was mad.
Sorry to all the model railroaders. "
Mods, please cross post details of the missing items when Bowser posts them on both O and HO forums.
The topic may be crew-lounge material, but the site traffic is on the gauge specific forums. This will help immensely in catching the thieves.
Thank you.
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Post by jlwii2000 on Mar 16, 2015 16:32:13 GMT -8
I am so tired of this over sensitive society. The man was upset his stuff was stolen, he was obviously not realistically serious. Yet a bunch in the peanut gallery had to complain about it so in his time of pain he had to come apologize for the comment. What a ridiculous bunch of crap! I'm tired of these sensitive idiots in this hobby. The owner is a great guy. One of the few manufacturers that owns mistakes and corrects issues out there. I for one want to convey that my thoughts are with him. As for everyone upset about the death comment, don't get your panties in a bunch. This isn't a run for president, politics don't need to be so uptight such as what politicians running for president have to go through.
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Post by fr8kar on Mar 16, 2015 17:16:03 GMT -8
That does nothing to justify your Taliban remark. Some of us have lost family at the hands of the Taliban. Excuse it away any way you want. You are out of line. I take it from your sensitivity to my use of the word "Taliban" you missed the point of what I was saying. And since you are convinced I had ill intent, I won't waste any more effort to show you otherwise. |
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Mar 16, 2015 17:18:19 GMT -8
Cutting through a wall had to take time and make some noise. Labeling the theft as a brazen heist would be an understatement.
You have to feel sorry for the English family and its employees.
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Post by Donnell Wells on Mar 16, 2015 20:01:53 GMT -8
Please keep politics out of the forum!
Donnell
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hhr
New Member
Commercial Pilot
Posts: 34 
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Post by hhr on Mar 16, 2015 23:55:06 GMT -8
Perhaps, especially in light of the shocking nature of the crime, and the gut reaction of the individual at Bowser who contacted NBRY, the comment on the offender/offenders being put to death...should have been left out of the original qoute.
But please don't misconstrue this as faulting NBRY, it's just an observation keeping in line with my belief that such comments have no place here.
And to second Donnell, there is absolutely no need for the discussion of politics, in any way, shape, or form.
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Post by Christian on Mar 17, 2015 0:29:30 GMT -8
I am so tired of this over sensitive society. The man was upset his stuff was stolen, he was obviously not realistically serious. Here! Here! English was venting, not making a partisan comment. |
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Post by jamesbrodie67281 on Mar 17, 2015 1:14:29 GMT -8
Maybe a list of items taken ?.................Am in empathy over your loss, hope all turns out well.
James Brodie.
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Post by WP 257 on Mar 17, 2015 6:07:01 GMT -8
I called my friend Rich Cox, the long-time store sales manager, and he was already tired of talking about it yesterday.
One issue they did not share in the post is some of the trains were those belonging to customers who had brought them in for repair. So they may or may not still have the associated repair tickets that would, for example, say "Lionel 2026E - repair smoke unit". Though they might possibly be able to replace some of the trains, English's Model RR Supply will be unable to replace the lifetime of memories associated with those individual's trains.
Montoursville is a really nice town to live in; it has always been a very safe place where my grandmother for many years did not even bother to lock her doors. Finding a house in the Borough is always a challenge because there are so many people who want to live there (they have former Oriole and Yankee pitcher Mike Mussina as a volunteer Little League assistant coach, and he coaches the high school basketball team and donates a significant portion of his time to Little League's international office, nearby.) That's the kind of people they raise in that town--honest, hardworking, and more interested in helping others than themselves (of course he can do that because he'll never have to worry about money again), but they are great people.
The store is located in a relatively quiet industrial district a couple blocks from the former Reading mainline. The walls of the former factory building are cinder block.
My sympathies to anyone who lost out here.
John
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Post by riogrande on Mar 17, 2015 7:44:32 GMT -8
It the past, I have seen posts regarding theft of items from shops or clubs. Sometimes we do get reports days or weeks, later that items were recovered. It is my hope that most, if not all, items in these reported incidents are recovered and the thieves apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Based on some reports, it sounds like similar incents have been reported in the same region so there appears to be a pattern here. Hopefully fast moving electrons (internet) will help apprehend the thieves in due time. Everyone keep your eyes open: "if you see something, say something".
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Post by Brakie on Mar 17, 2015 10:25:02 GMT -8
It the past, I have seen posts regarding theft of items from shops or clubs. Sometimes we do get reports days or weeks, later that items were recovered. It is my hope that most, if not all, items in these reported incidents are recovered and the thieves apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Based on some reports, it sounds like similar incents have been reported in the same region so there appears to be a pattern here. Hopefully fast moving electrons (internet) will help apprehend the thieves in due time. Everyone keep your eyes open: "if you see something, say something". Jim,I suspect these thieves are smart since then went in knowing what to look for and may have already had a buyer waiting.I suspect these items won't show up on e-bay, Craig's list or any train show for quite some time and when they do I suspect it won't be a mass quality.. Here's the rub..How can you tell a stolen locomotive or car from a normal used model? You can't since there is no serial number to check and I doubt if these will be sold as new when they do surface..As you may know these could sit in a storage locker in another area or State for years. The best the Police can hope for is a person to step forward and give the needed information which may never happen. |
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Post by tdspeedracer on Mar 17, 2015 12:13:34 GMT -8
Here's the rub..How can you tell a stolen locomotive or car from a normal used model? You can't since there is no serial number to check and I doubt if these will be sold as new when they do surface..As you may know these could sit in a storage locker in another area or State for years. The best the Police can hope for is a person to step forward and give the needed information which may never happen. You nailed it. I've had stuff disappear at shows. For all anyone knows the guy two layouts away could have started running it ten minutes layer. How are you going to prove that THAT Athearn boxcar is yours vs one of the other thousands made? IMHO, The odds of getting it back are nil unless they get caught hitting another store. Hopefully they have good insurance to cover the loss. Trevor |
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Post by riogrande on Mar 17, 2015 13:07:55 GMT -8
Dunno guys, but never-the-less, I have heard of examples of stuff recovered. With the internet, word spreads like wildfire so all you need is someone with loose lips and the jig could be up.
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Post by eh49 on Mar 17, 2015 16:23:12 GMT -8
Just wondering. Being they went through the wall, what type of wall construction does Bowsers building use?
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Post by jlwii2000 on Mar 17, 2015 17:07:06 GMT -8
Please keep politics out of the forum!
Donnell No one is bringing politics into the forum. I simply said that the owner of Bowser should be able to say whatever he wants as he is not under the scrutiny of those running for president. |
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Post by WP 257 on Mar 18, 2015 5:08:28 GMT -8
This building had been the Bowser factory and warehouse, and is primarily of cinderblock wall construction.
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Mar 18, 2015 6:22:40 GMT -8
This building had been the Bowser factory and warehouse, and is primarily of cinderblock wall construction. To cut through that type of construction made noise and needed equipment like gas powered concrete cutting saws. The thieves also needed to know where to cut. Bowser was cased prior to the break in. I don't know if Bowser's building is alarmed, but I'd be surprised if it was not. So entry through doors and windows was out. Even for a quiet industrial area, the sound should travel, but being winter with closed windows, I'd be surprised if anyone heard much of anything. Insurance was mentioned earlier in this thread. As an insurance underwriter, I know that this is no simple claim as other people's possessions were part of the items stolen. Even if everything was brand new, how do you place a fair replacement value on discontinued items. For collectable items that were stolen, that is even more difficult to come up with a fair replacement value. Its going to take time for Bowser and its carrier to come up with the numbers. The damage to the building is the easiest part of the claim process. But there still is a deductible on the policies which is money out of the company's pocket. Even with insurance, Bowser is still going to feel the loss. One thing is for certain, this wasn't a random crime like a smash and grab. Bowser was targeted when you consider the amount of effort involved in breaking in. Busting open a door, window is something you'd expect in a robbery. Cutting a hole in the wall is nearly a Hollywood type of entry. |
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Post by WP 257 on Mar 18, 2015 12:47:42 GMT -8
Oh, yes, they knew what they wanted. Took a small amount of cash (I guess whatever they could find in the register), and left behind what I personally would consider to be more valuable trains, at least by relative size, weight, and perhaps even saleability/ability to sell online and ship easily.
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hhr
New Member
Commercial Pilot
Posts: 34
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Post by hhr on Mar 18, 2015 18:44:52 GMT -8
According to the local media up there, the security system captured images of two suspects wearing full face masks and gloves. But no information as to whether the PSP(Pennsylvania State Police) recovered any prints etc. According to my uncle who lives in the neighboring city of Muncy, after the initial media coverage, a lid has been placed on further reports.
The store/warehouse is buried on a quiet back street in an industrial area of the town, so the noise created by the break in, and the time required to cut through the wall were probably of little concern to the suspects.
As far as the recovery of the stolen trains, I'd hope that the PSP is prepared to monitor online auction sites, and train shows. But from what has been relayed to me by a friend at the PSP, since the massive expenditures involved in the manhunt and apprehension of Eric Frein, they are spread very thin.
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