"Huge wargaming collection stolen in Northern California" Topic

A long time wargamer, Rod Thompson from Chico, California , had his storage unit broken into & most of his wargaming collection stolen. I know the stuff probably wouldn't end up being moved very far, but he's asked that the info be disseminated to the widest audience in hopes of getting some of it back.

Below is his contact info & an initial list of what was stolen. Please contact him directly if you see any large collections being sold.

Thanks

List of Goods Stolen from Unit 68 at 7th Street Storage, Chico, CA, the Weekend of 5/29/2015

(List Date: 6/4/15)

Sometime on or around the weekend of May 29, 2015, someone broke into my storage unit and stole most of my collection of wargaming materials and other odds and ends representing decades in the hobby, above and beyond its monetary value. Also taken was a large part of my scholarly library, mostly books on various historical subjects.

I am offering a reward for any information that leads to the recovery of these items: $1,000 USD for the gaming-related items, an additional $1,000 USD for the books, and $500 USD for the personal items, particularly those relating to my daughter.

The majority of stolen items were housed in grey plastic storage tubs purchased in large quantity from Wal-Mart. Many had a brief description of their contents written on a label or on the tub itself in Magic Marker.

This is a preliminary list for the purposes of spreading the word ASAP, and is not all-inclusive. I am still trying to determine the full extent of loss, and will update this later when that painful process is complete.

If found, please contact

Rod Thomson
(530) 518-8375
RODNEY.L.THOMSON@GMAIL.COM

Gaming-Items:

Collectible Star Wars Figures (Wizards of the Coast): approximately 3,000, including vehicles and beasts, and two AT-AT walkers that were still mint-in-box. Most were in white cardboard boxes or Ziploc bags in grey plastic tubs, but some (mostly the vehicles) were in long-low clear plastic tubs with white lids. Also taken were all the cards that went with the figures, stored in two cardboard boxes.

Collectible D&D and Pathfinder Figures (Wizards of the Coast): approximately 1,000 of all varieties, in smaller clear plastic storage boxes.

Collectible MechWarrior figures (Wizards of the Coast): one cardboard box full of mostly infantry and mechs (i.e. not many tanks, etc.).

Dwarven Forge dungeon scenery: Eight to ten sets worth, mostly still in their original boxes, but some stored in a separate plastic tub.

Dwarven Forge sci-fi scenery: Two of their original sets in a smaller plastic box.\

Flagship Games Pirates! Collection: Several painted 25mm ships, ironclads, galleys, etc., in a rolling black tool chest with telescoping handle. I believe that other Pirates! materials were in the box too – ordnance, templates, splash markers, etc.

Painted 15mm metal sci-fi: by a variety of manufacturers, most were still in the packaging they came in after being painted by Fernando Enterprises. Many different races, mostly infantry (as opposed to vehicles). A large, clear-plastic tub full.

Painted 1/72 plastic armies: hundreds if not thousands of figures spanning a variety of time periods – ancient, renaissance, WWII mostly. All still in the packaging they came in after being painted by Fernando Enterprises.

Painted 28mm gladiators: mostly Foundry with a few others mixed in, including a few lions. All based on individual washers with texturing and/or flocking mix. Stored in a grey Chessex figure box; one box full.

Painted 28mm Wild West: several grey Chessex figures boxes full, including cowboys, gunfighters, Mexicans, civilians, Chinese, and Indians; most on foot but some mounted US cavalry. All individually based on flocked and/or textured bases. Mostly Foundry figures. Three (?) boxes worth.

Painted 28mm Dark Ages: several grey Chessex figure boxes full (7?) full. Hundreds of figures including cavalry and foot. Vikings, Saxons, Normans. From a collection I purchased on eBay a little over a year ago. Mostly Foundry figures.

Painted 28mm figures for Rorke's Drift – British and Zulus: approximately 500 figures total, most still in the packaging they came in after being painted by Fernando Enterprises.

Painted 20mm vehicles: mostly metal, by a variety of manufactures. Those with turrets for the most part have loose turrets (so they can turn). The vast majority are for WWII, with some WWI mixed in. I'm guessing around 150 total, including tanks, tank-destroyers, artillery, armored cars, trucks, jeeps, etc. Some were in clear plastic tubs, some in long black plastic tool boxes with cut-foam inserts inside.

Painted 20mm infantry: metal by a variety of manufacturers. Painted British, German, American, and Russian infantry. Some were stored in The Armory black figure cases, some in GW cases. Most based individually on flocked bases. Several hundred figures total.

Painted 25mm moderns: metal by Foundry, Britannia, and others. Most painted by Fernando Enterprises. Includes modern US for Mogadishu, hundreds of Somalians, almost the entire range of Foundry's "Street Violence," and various zombie-fighting civilians. House in black GW figure cases. Over 200 figures total.

Painted 25mm zombies: metal by various manufactures. Most painted by Fernando Enterprises. All singly based, in black GW figure cases. I'm not sure how many of these they got yet, but around 100 at a minimum.

Painted 25mm renaissance figures: Another large collection, primarily Redoubt and Foundry figures. Includes infantry, cavalry, artillery, and civilians. All are individually based on flocked bases. Redoubt are from across their Renaissance range, and the Foundry figures are from their Conquistadores and Elizabethan Sea Dogs ranges. Some figures stored in a clear plastic tub, but many were in black GW figure cases. Approximately 300 figures total.

1/72 diecast modern tanks and APCs: One clear plastic tub full. I believe they left me the Russian/Iraqi vehicles, but took all the American ones – M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley APCs.

Plastic Trojan Horse, manufactured by/for FAO Schwarz. Has a cartoony look to it, but it was central to my Troy! Game. They also took a cardboard box of prepainted 54mm plastic Greek warriors that came in "blue" and "red" versions.

Board and Card Games: lots and lots of games! Many were stored in grey plastic or clear tubs. A few that I remember off the top of my head include: The War Game (like Risk on steroids); the World of Warcraft Game; DUST Tactics; Nuns on the Run; Condottiere; Troy; A La Cart; Battlestar Galactica; Galaxy Trucker; Shadows Over Camelot; all my Memoir '44 collection (in the satchel they made to carry everything); and scores of others. Some were still in their shrink-wrap. A diverse collection covering lots of levels of player skill, age, genre, etc.

Wargame Rules: At least two grey plastic tubs full. Mostly in book form, but some in boxes (like "Sword and the Flame"). Cover the gamut of wargaming genres and scales.\

Non-Game Items:

Books: lots and lots of books! Almost all were related to history in some manner, including: Japanese, samurai, Chinese, Asia, the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation and post-Reformation England, Classical Antiquity, and on and on. My collection of Osprey's were taken – two tubs full. My collection of Loeb's (small hard-backs with Greek or Latin text on the left-hand page and an English translation on the right-hand – the former have a green cover, the latter red) – at least 100. Hundreds of scholarly monographs and important research works (Oxford and Cambridge encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc.) were taken. Since I purchased the vast majority through Amazon or eBay, I can create a specific list, but that will take a lot more time. Many are long out of print and will be very hard or impossible to replace. By my best estimate, they took at least 24 grey plastic tubs full of books.

A large clear plastic tub of my daughter's toys, mostly stuffed animals.

A grey plastic tub filled with my daughter's elementary-school art projects.

An older video camera (used the smaller video cassettes). I am not interested in the camera, so much as the videos included in the case that contain movies of my daughter when she was a toddler.

A clear plastic tub filled with small art objects and knick-knacks, including a large bronze bowl from India cast sometime in the nineteenth century, candlesticks, etc.

Martial Arts Training Weapons: A variety of training and live blades (samurai, knives, tai chi sword, etc.), escrima weapons, and a snake-head spear.

Very nice deck chaise lounger with tan cloth and metal frame.

Various arts and crafts goods, including spray paints, craft paints, flocking,

Horrible! And the sort of thing that, even if insured, mere $$$ doesn't really replace.

The problem of not putting a jumping mine linked to it. Which also helps in case you forgot you did.
Horrible thing to happen.
Makes me think I should have some way of marking discreetly some items to track later on ebay etc.

The phrase "shoot on sight" comes to mind. Also "Inside Job", given that they sorted through and left the Russian AFVs.

I am only speculating, but I suspect someone from the Greater gaming community. Rod has been a major player in the NorCal convention community for YEARS (easily back to the 90's). Someone at a recent Con might have seen something the thought the just had to have.

My only other suspect would be an Ex (I never met them)

Sad, sad day

I'm so sorry to hear about this. Every collector's nightmare! Any guess as to it's being an "inside job" (some acquaintance who knew about the storage unit) or just random thievery (in which case it could all end out in some bin)? Either way, it's a sickening thing to have happen.

EDIT: Ah, just read more carefully and it seems all sorts of stuff was taken--so it looks like a random hit.

This happened to one of our group in SoCal. It was an inside job by an employee after hours. He dumped the figures and they were not recovered. Hopefully your stuff starts to turn up at flea markets, Ebay, etc, and the person/people get nabbed. I am sorry this happened to you.

Someone needs to be skinned alive.

Yeah, I'm thinking nside job, too. Whether they knew it was wargamer stuff, I don't know. Does seem odd that they actually sorted through the tanks and left something behind, so it's possible they had some idea of what he had and some idea of how or where to sell it. Yet they took the non-gamer stuff too. Hmmm… maybe somebody knew, and the other somebodies just loaded whatever they grabbed.
(Dons amateur armchair detective hat):
That much stuff implies a large van, or even a rental truck, and a determined effort of more than one thief. Even with two guys, that would take time to do, especially with the sorting going on.
So you've got either an employee and his/her gang (possibly literally), or a group with either interest in the collection for its value, or somebody (with no-account friends) who is really, really mad at him.
I'd be surprised if there wasn't surveillance footage of the theft.
Were other units hit? Were other units similarly stuffed with goods? How close/far was his unit to a camera, a gate, or a point of entry? Thieves aren't likely to go out of their way to haul off that much stuff unless they either know or assume it has a high value or it's the easiest target.

Whatever it was, I am sorry for your friend. Theft, big or small, is a violation. We had a recent incident where I work, with two devices being stolen during work hours on two separate occasions. Even though the stuff wasn't ours, my coworkers and I were all unsettled by the experience. It makes us feel like we can't turn our heads away from the equipment, and we spend a lot of time now locking things up just so we can leave a room to run internal errands or simply take a five-minute break. Even with one of the devices returned and the other replaced, we still feel on edge.

Very sorry to hear this.

I hope you recover your items, and the perpetrator(s) get sent to the big house.

I feel your pain – happened to me years ago, but no where
near the magnitude of your loss..

But it's still your life that's been taken, whether in
part or in whole.

I was lucky – my property was returned, anonymously.

My fervent wish is that your's will be, too.

Rotten luck – hope you get at least some of it back!

I cannot even the imagine the anguish of such a loss. I cannot even bear to allow my figures to be left at someone else's house. for fear of loss.

Parzival asks good questions. Just the one locker, if so then inside gaming community interest. For the price of the reward, perhaps a private investigator could help.

If it was a storage unit and they only broken into HIS storage unit, then yes it was an inside job.

Rod,
It made me sick to my stomach hearing about this theft. I will keep my eyes and ears open. You are such a good friend and have helped me over the years with my Web site. I cannot express the grief I feel for you. if I come up with anything, I will let you know. And my reward would be seeing you get your items back. No other reward is necessary. Will also pray!

Rod is a really good guy. I hope this works out and he gets everything back.

Very sorry for your loss, I would be heartbroken to lose all my collection.

I hope you get it all back soon!

I assume you have filed a police report. You can have them check the storage companies surveillance camera footage and also, if the site has an after hours gate they should have a record of who entered from their pass codes. Also, put any pictures you have on all the social media you can access to get as many eyes looking as possible.

It maybe worth a try to contact one of your local tv stations and see if they would do a personal interest piece because of the unique nature of the items stolen.

I am afraid you are going to have to do all the legwork to have any hope of recovering any of the itrems.

Sorry for the loss, how long did you have the stuff in stoarage? Did any other units get hit. Someone must have either watched you unload it, or new about it. If it was the only unit, it would be hard to believe it was random. Unless the storage unit itself was in a area that was more convient to break into. I would check for video around the area, the cops would look into this, if you pushed them. If it is gated, and a code is needed then surely that would have been recorded on a computer.

Maybe it was friends of someone who has a unit nearby. The cops should research it and ask questions, I would stay on them like a mad man. Anyone one with a burgalary record that owns a storage unit, I would survey.

I agree with the news story, contact all the local media. This will also may help make the police investigation move foward faster. Sounds like a very valuable collection. $15,000 USD plus, so that is large felony theft, that should be taken seriously.

There has to be some sort of conection, or does it look random. Maybe if it was random, that stopped at your unit only. But how did they get into the area with a vehicle. Someone had access. That is the starting point. I would think about throwing a lawsuit at the storage company if they had weak security. I would say they are liable.

There is nothing worse than a thief. Especially to steal toys.

I would go on Ebay and put in notifications on your email of the various types of stuff that are local to you. For example, if you are looking for LOTR Minas Tirith, everytime some one sells one you get a notification. Just a thought.

I have been stolen from before, and I shifted my anger towards doing something about it, and I did. I didnt get the guy put in jail but exposed him the the state as being a Con man. Didnt not get my money back,….but I still claimed a victory.

Very sorry for your loss, and I wish you the best in finding the low lifes. I believe it was at least 2 people. Someone had to being on look out.

Tom

Very sorry to hear this.

I regularly scan e-bay for figures, if you have pictures and wish to send some to me I will keep a look out.

Simply dreadful! I hope you succeed in recovering much of it

Very, very sorry to hear of this. My best wishes for a successful recovery.

Check Ebay, any local flea markets or hobby shops that sell things on consignment.
Also watch for any sci-fi shows, you may even want to check with the facility to see if they have cameras, check with any places close by that may have security cameras as well.
I'm sorry to hear about this.
Who knows, whoever did this might just be dumb enough to try and sell it here.

The security level of a storage facility must be considered when putting your life in a remote location. This facility does not have security cameras.
7thstreetstoragechico.com

@ Black Cavalier:

Rod's note should also be emailed to the regional email lists. I know of a few SF Bay and Monterey Bay lists full of people who know him:

southbaygameclub@yahoogroups.com
bayareawargamers@yahoogroups.com
central_california_wargamers@yahoogroups.com

There are probably some email lists for the Sacramento area and Central Valley groups that I'm unaware of, but some of those folks are also on the above lists and would be able to forward his message.

These are the people who know Rod and his gaming gear, and would be most eager and able to help – especially if his stuff starts showing up for sale on eBay, at local flea markets, in area conventions, etc.

- Ix

Dons professional Detectives hat.

Find out who is assigned to your case and go visit them in person. Don't call, visit. Put a face to you case. Take my word, it matters. Ask the Det his/her schedule and check in frequently. Ask questions as to what steps have been taken.
Keep notes….. date/time/results. Prints, video, traffic cams and nearby stores videos should be checked. If not, why not?
I'm a retired MOS, so I can say this. Cops are busy and burglary takes a back seat to violent crimes. However, there are plenty of civil servants who are just lazy. You have to push. Always ask for name and rank when you call. Write it down. "Hi, I'm Mr. Jones. Who am I speaking too?"

If you're unhappy or feel like you getting blown off, request a meeting with a Supervisor and state your case.
If you have an attorney, have them call the Commanding Officer to expalin your concerns.

Still unhappy? Write a letter to the Police Commissioner. I don't know how big your PD is, but letter writers are ususally taken serioulsy. Finally, you can always contact the Mayor's office and complain. The mayor calls the PC and the PC calls the CO and the leg bone is connected to the thigh bone. You get the idea

It's the squeaky wheel that get the grease, especially dealing with the PD.

Ask the case officer if he/she minds if you speak to the Narcs. See if they will go with you. They probably have a buddy there.

Your only real hope is to go to wherever the local Narcotics
Unit is located ask the supervisor if you can address the guys after roll call. Make up and bring flyers to hand out. Include a contact number and a list of stolen items. Add a few pix, if you got them. Print up 100 or so and leave them there.

The narcs have lots of street people looking for a favor. Let it be known that a tip that works out, will earn a nice size reward. Street people love rewards.
Ask them to check Pawn shops for you. If you have the time, visit the pawn shops and ask if anyone was in trying to sell toy soldiers. Some people won't ever talk to cops, so do it yourself. Let the pawn guy know that there's cash in it for him if he has info.
If someone was in tryng to sell, get the tape and call your case officer.

The real question is how are the perps gonna unload this?
Was it a steal too order? Not really a big market out there among the genral public. Very limited as to who would pay cash for wargames figures. Make sure that the employees are checked for having/belonging too a wargame/toy soldier blogs.
Check their facebook pages. Craigs list, Ebay et al.

Who knew, besides you, that the collection was in there?
Friends? Relatives? Angry ex-wife?
Lots of questions need to be answered.

I am sorry for your loss. It would break my heart.

Too bad I'm retired. This is a case that should be solved with some hard work and shoe leather. Someone out there knows what happened and where you stuff may be. The one thing that you have going for you is that the figures will survive. They are not getting thrown in a trash can.

Feel free to shoot me a PM, if you have additional questions.

Thank you everyone for your advice and kind words – especially for Black Cavalier who posted it in the first place. I am still working on the list of stolen items (it's growing daily), but I appreciate getting the word out to the wargaming community.

I wouldn't wish this on anyone. They took over 30 years of collecting, painting, and building. While I am not as active in the hobby as I was before returning to grad school, they stole a large part of my identity, and a much-looked-forward-to future of using my collection both for entertainment and historical instruction.

In two words, whoever did this sucks rope.

Again, my thanks to everyone for your kind words and advice,

Cheers!

Rod Thomson
Chico, CA

Based on the description of the containers, I suspect someone thought they were stealing a commercial collection rather than a private collection (though I don't discount it might have been someone with 'inside' knowledge).

Being based in Northern California (Sacramento area), I will have my antennae up. Such a large lot will not travel unseen or unknown.

And kudos to Rod for offering a reward – shows the true value of the collection to him (and much more than the reward he is offering).

Here's to hoping it is recovered with minimal loss or damage.

Of course, that part of the world is also home to some low life traders in pharmacalogical substances.

Don't forget to put an alert out to the local colleges and CSU Chico.

I'll mention this to the folks at Viking Hobby in Sacramento tomorrow and have them pass the word around, too.

The whole thing sucks horribly and I hope your collection is returned intact.

Thanks Whitestreak! I suspect that the culprit(s) is not local. Thanks to you and other TMPers, the word is spreading quickly.

Rod

While searching for something completing different over on LAF, ran across the original post there. Just wondering, anything ever get recovered? Culprit get caught?

Hope so. Don't mean to open an old wound.

I hope they catch them quickly. Stuff that is hard to fence at a pawn shop tends to be dumped in the trash. Catch them and prosecute them.