From Facebook... As a retail store, Just Trains is trying to adjust and survive in our “new normal” world, unfortunately we still have to deal with all the the pitfalls of the “old normal” world. At 4:16am this morning, Just Trains experienced a burglary. One or more perpetrators smashed the glass on our front door, then one climbed in and made their way directly to the HO Consignment Brass display case, breaking the glass to steal the contents. In and out of the store in two minutes. In addition to the stolen items, many other items in the case were damaged beyond repair during the crime. Today we cleaned up the debris from the break in, and secured the building. Tonight we are working on securing our emotions. Tomorrow we will be doing a complete inventory to determine exactly what is missing. Many of the items taken were unique vintage brass pieces. From their handling of the pieces in the surveillance video, the thieves were gathering items for sale, not for a collection. A partial list is, Description W&R Brass Import 2-8-8-2 Version 1, WP #252 3rd Rail, div of Sunset Models AC-9 2-8-8-4, SP Oil Tender, Unpainted Brass IMR AC-12 Cab Forward, DCC/Sound, Unlettered Key Imp, C-10 2-8-0 SP#2842 3rd Rail, div of Sunset Models 4-8-2 DC Loco, ATSF Unnumbered Westside Model Company WP Outside Braced Bay Window Caboose (Brass) WP 2-8-2 Late Tender Painted Brass Van Hobbies RDC Tenshodo Rio Grande F9A B Set Tenshodo Passenger cars Coach Yard Coaches Golden Gate Depot, UP Coach with custom interior and weathering The model railroad community is a close knit group and we appreciate the many people that have already expressed interest in how they can help. When the missing inventory list is ready, we will publish a link to it. We ask that people watch for items on that list being offered for sale on online platforms. Most the items will be missing original boxes.
I am stunned and sad. I'd have thought that a model train shop would be the last target on a burglar's list. Looking at the high value of what was taken, perhaps it was a "hobbyist" who worked the crime? In any case, it will be hard to sell anything given wide circulation of the list provided by bremner.
Some people think only of making personal gain, and don't care who pays. I totally agree with Hardcoaler in that the items taken are going to be difficult for this person to sell. Then there are the items that were destroyed. It's senseless. Everyone loses.
Dang, that's so sad! Hopefully they'll be caught and justice will be served, but the damage and expenses are done, money the store already can't afford. Looks like someone knew exactly what they were looking for though, so if they'res security footage, they can go back and look at whoever was eyeing that brass in the case. Dang it.
While it is horrible that the items were stolen, I believe that they will be sold and not recovered unless the police finds them before they are listed somewhere. We like to think of ourselves as good honest people, but like the infamous Big Dawg Originals fiasco has shown us; people will shamelessly buy anything for a good price. We all know that they stole the Rapido shell design (as well as others), but yet people still buy from them. I see this as no different. However, I will still be sure to report the item if I see it on eBay. If the HO Swap Meet is still on yahoo, they could go there too. Brasstrains.com also does consignment, but they probably have already seen this.
OUCH! That did hurt! Sad to see. We need good small business owners to be successful. I am hoping along with others that justice will be done. I know the outlook is grim but I continue to be optimistic that the "perps" will be hauled in. I wish Just Trains swift recovery and much success in the future.
Notice they left lots of stuff behind... It denotes a targeted theft. Probably a collector who already has a huge collection for all the new pieces to get inconspicuously lost in, already has the whole stash, and thieves already been paid.
Bremner, do you or any of the staff have photographs of the missing items? I'm not sure where you could post them, maybe on collectors sites or ????
Was just BRASS taken? If it was just BRASS, the items might have already been disposed of. A sledge hammer and a flat concrete floor makes a FLATTENED BRASS piece that would be hard to disguise from a basket full of SCRAP BRASS. Around here So. Indiana [Louisville, KY area] thieves are taking A/C units. New/Old houses are being stripped for Copper. Anything to sell to Scrape/Salvage dealers for a buck.
I would hate to even think about that, but I'd say it's unlikely. Only scrap thieves who weren't very good at math would take a chance on a B&E for that amount of weight. I agree with Robert. Somebody with no conscience wanted this stuff.
So sorry to hear this. Hopefully the perps are caught. We all should be keeping an eye out on fleabay and other train fourms in the for sale threads. Hopefully their insurance can at least cover for the loss and damage.