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Offline ocram63_uk  
#1 Posted : 10 September 2017 18:51:18(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
Hello everyone,
sorry to disturb with such 'breaking' news, but I'm actually in pieces.
My complete Marklin, Roco, Hornby and Lima train collection has been stolen.
Everything, spares, accessories tracks and rolling stock.
Some unidentified 'gang' has broken into the storeroom where I was keeping it and removed everything.
The location is an area between the counties of Essex and Suffolk, England.
The models are mainly german and italian, almost all of them converted to the 3 rail system.
A surge on the UK market of these items for sale, second hand shops, car boot sales and the lot, could be a give away to the origin of the material.
21 years of life have vanished during a night.

If anyone by any chance hears or sees these things for sale could please get in touch with me?

The police has a complete list of these items, they told me that being the nationality of these items not related to UK trains them appearing on the marklet could be a give away of the origin.

If someone wants the list I'm more than happy to supply it.

I do not know if by entering this thread I brake any type of forum rule but I do not know what else I can do.
I'm already contacting the second hand shops that I have found in the various train magazines.

Thank you for your attention.
Have a nice evening
Marco
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Offline Ian555  
#2 Posted : 10 September 2017 19:15:07(UTC)
Ian555

Scotland   
Joined: 04/06/2009(UTC)
Posts: 20,240
Location: Scotland
So sorry to hear about that Marco.

Ian.
Offline NS1200  
#3 Posted : 10 September 2017 20:23:33(UTC)
NS1200

Netherlands   
Joined: 10/08/2009(UTC)
Posts: 3,443
Marco,

Were you insured in any way?

Paul.
Have more than you show,speak less than you know (Shakespeare).
Offline Webmaster  
#4 Posted : 10 September 2017 20:47:05(UTC)
Webmaster


Joined: 25/07/2001(UTC)
Posts: 11,161
A plea to our members - Please watch out for bargain sales on ebay & other sales sites for these items, and report suspicious sales ads to the sale site admins.

Either these items will go on ebay if the perpetrators are stupid, or they will go on local sales as flee markets, local "sell" sites and such.
So if our UK members could keep an eye on the local sites, non UK members can at least watch out on ebay and such.
Juhan - "Webmaster", at your service...
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. [Old Chinese Proverb]
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Online Carim  
#5 Posted : 10 September 2017 20:53:23(UTC)
Carim

United Kingdom   
Joined: 15/09/2014(UTC)
Posts: 653
Location: London
Hi Marco,

I am very sorry to hear about this. Can you tell whether they just stole anything that they saw, and that happened to be your model railway stuff, or did they actually target model railways? If it was the former, posting in your area a no questions asked reward for the return of the " childrens' toys" might get your stuff back.

Carim
Offline ocram63_uk  
#6 Posted : 10 September 2017 22:45:44(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
Just to put everyone's heart at rest, they targeted my trains because they were all boxed up and ready for pickup. They checked al the boxes in the place and just took the trains, the only valuable stuff in there.
The rest of the stuff are furniture and other bulky things not easy to transport and not easy to sell.

They used a sledge hammer firts try and enter by a window but this resisted too well so they attacked the door broke off the hinges and entered.

My friend's storage facility is close to houses in the Essex / Suffolk countryside but not in a crowded area so who knows if anybody heard this banging given that there also is a clay pigeon shooting range in the vicinity?
They do not know if it was done during the day or at night.

I wasn't insured, unfortunately. I had thought of going there recently and collect some of the stuff, crane and round table, but have always postponed it.

The only thing they did not rob me of is my EcoS and a couple of Marklin locos that I had collected as I wanted to sell them some months ago.

Irony is that yesterday I went to a train fair here in my area and was making plans of getting a layout sorted in the not too distant future Cursing

I've already created alerts on ebay for a couple of the itmes. I have to have a positive attitude.

I'm really devastated :-(

Thank you for your support

Marco
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Offline PhillipL  
#7 Posted : 10 September 2017 23:53:37(UTC)
PhillipL

United States   
Joined: 24/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 123
I am very sorry for what happened to you. I hope you are able to recover your items that were stolen.
Offline kiwiAlan  
#8 Posted : 11 September 2017 00:01:03(UTC)
kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,109
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
The other places to look are auction sites like Warwick & Warwick and Vectis. A number of other auction houses advertise in the UK MRR magazines (Hornby Magazine, railway Modeller, BRM, etc). It would be worth sending them a list of the items stolen in case an attempt is made to sell it that way. They would likely get a larger amount that way if succesful, as some of these auction houses appear to have built up an international reputation as sources for MRR items.

Unfortunately in your part of the world it could all have been transported through the Chunnel to Europe before you even discovered the loss.

But who else (apart from your friend) knew the stuff was there? Someone must have found out to target it like that. Had you shown it to anyone with a view to selling?

Sorry to hear of your loss. Such discoveries are horrible at the best of times.

Offline petestra  
#9 Posted : 11 September 2017 01:50:49(UTC)
petestra

United States   
Joined: 27/07/2009(UTC)
Posts: 5,824
Location: Leesburg,VA.USA
So sorry, Marco. We will all, I'm sure, be on the lookout for you. Peter. Crying
Offline mike c  
#10 Posted : 11 September 2017 04:56:34(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 7,898
Location: Montreal, QC
Quote:
My complete Marklin, Roco, Hornby and Lima train collection has been stolen.
Everything, spares, accessories tracks and rolling stock.
Some unidentified 'gang' has broken into the storeroom where I was keeping it and removed everything.
The location is an area between the counties of Essex and Suffolk, England.
The models are mainly german and italian, almost all of them converted to the 3 rail system.
A surge on the UK market of these items for sale, second hand shops, car boot sales and the lot, could be a give away to the origin of the material.
21 years of life have vanished during a night.


Quote:
Just to put everyone's heart at rest, they targeted my trains because they were all boxed up and ready for pickup. They checked al the boxes in the place and just took the trains, the only valuable stuff in there.
The rest of the stuff are furniture and other bulky things not easy to transport and not easy to sell.
They used a sledge hammer firts try and enter by a window but this resisted too well so they attacked the door broke off the hinges and entered.
My friend's storage facility is close to houses in the Essex / Suffolk countryside but not in a crowded area so who knows if anybody heard this banging given that there also is a clay pigeon shooting range in the vicinity?
They do not know if it was done during the day or at night.


Marco,

How many people knew what was in there? When you put the items in storage, did anybody witness your activity?
The idea of somebody taking only trains without taking anything else sounds a little unusual, as if they were specifically looking for that.

Was this a self-storage type place or were you keeping it at a private location (friend's basement, garage)?

I have heard of smash and grabs at storage units where they break into a number of units and take whatever they think that they can fence quickly, but model trains are not things that you can sell on a street corner or in a pub like a DVD player or laptop.

Keep your eyes on ebay.co.uk but also check ebay.fr, befr.ebay.be, ebay.nl and ebay.de from time to time.
You should also keep an eye on auction houses and hobby shops that buy and sell bulk lots and then sell those at auctions and online.

Good luck

Mike C
Offline sjbartels  
#11 Posted : 11 September 2017 05:09:19(UTC)
sjbartels

United States   
Joined: 11/08/2015(UTC)
Posts: 1,091
If you could post a list of what was taken, watching places like eBay and a single seller having several of the items on your list out of the UK could create a red flag for sure for the Police to follow up on. I for one am always looking on eBay and getting email alerts for new listings (if they're stupid enough to use eBay), so I'd be happy to keep an eye out for you. I truly hope they were insured or something......
American by Geography, Australian by Birth. I am an original Ameristraylian
Offline baggio  
#12 Posted : 11 September 2017 06:16:06(UTC)
baggio

Canada   
Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,729
Location: Toronto
So sorry to hear the bad news, Marco.

Please do post the list and include any distinguishing marks on any items.

Offline river6109  
#13 Posted : 11 September 2017 06:46:23(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,726
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
Sorry to hear this, happen to me several years back, living in Australia, I thought no one would steal Märklin stuff as 99 % is 2 rail but thieves don't care what they take, if the fancy it they'll take it and I wouldn't be surprised they may even throw it in the rubbish bin.

my collection items was worth about A$ 6000.00, the stupid thing was I had milk crates in the garage and he took them to load up all the gear. the gardener across the road noticed a car in the carport but didn't take any more notice of it.

bring back flogging.

regards.,

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
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Offline Rwill  
#14 Posted : 11 September 2017 09:49:57(UTC)
Rwill

United Kingdom   
Joined: 04/05/2015(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: England, London
Sorry to hear your news.

Many good points already made - a list or list of the key items would be useful.

At UK swap meets and local exhibitions with traders present I usually ask hopefully "Any Marklin?" to be treated to a pitiful negative look or pointing at a single sad Hamo! So we can be on our guard for you at these a sudden influx of a collection of Marklin can be checked - is it an estate sale etc.
Offline ocram63_uk  
#15 Posted : 11 September 2017 09:52:18(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
the thing that worries me the most if for the stuff being thrown away. Cursing
They are all digital and retrofitted to digital trains so the first time they even try to power them up they will be destroyed, I believe by a normal transformer.

The storage facility belongs to a friend, I had these things there for the last 3 years and nothing ever happened.

I never mentioned the actual location because I don't even know the post code nor remember the name of the place so I could have not leaked this out to anybody. My friend has been storing stuff for friends for years.

The last person in there was my wife's son to recover the washing machine we had there and he went there alone.

Already written to all the auction houses yesterday evening.

This is the list of the Marklin items:

WAGONS
1 47879
1 47909

TURNTABLE
1 7186

CRANE
1 7051

LOCOMOTIVES
1 3047
1 3089
1 3077
1 3605
1 3314
1 3352
1 3021
1 3351
1 3035
1 3003
1 3034
1 3311
1 3001
1 3143
1 3748
1 39120
1 36861
1 36606
1 30322
1 39680
1 37095
1 37082
1 37961
1 39640
1 33961
1 33182

SETS
1 2864
1 46716

I also have Trix, Hornby, Rivarossi, Lima and ACME stuff which will never be sold in UK as they are not 'popular', I believe.
If you want these lists as well I will happily provide them to you.

I know some items are not valuable at all, but they were part of my life. Crying
The italian models can now only be found online or at train fairs as they are not produced anymore.
I do not know how many British modelers are interested in gernan and italian trains at all but I believe very little.

Thank you
Marco
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Offline river6109  
#16 Posted : 11 September 2017 10:00:02(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,726
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
I think the problem is with your collection, most of that could be sold at weekend markets and overseeing it would be impossible but at the same time if any member living in the UK may spot them, I hope you get them back

regards.,

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
Offline baggio  
#17 Posted : 11 September 2017 10:05:40(UTC)
baggio

Canada   
Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,729
Location: Toronto
Please provide a list of the Italian locos with any distinguishing marks
I will ask the folks at 3Rotaie to keep an eye out for these locos but such a list is needed.

If any loco were found, this could lead the police to find the thief.
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Offline danmarklinman  
#18 Posted : 11 September 2017 11:09:30(UTC)
danmarklinman

United Kingdom   
Joined: 18/10/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,379
Sorry to hear of your loss. I will take a look myself. And I hope you get it all back.
Marklin and Piko era 4 SNCB , Marklin wagons
Wiking model car Fan
Faller fan including car system
Instagram: marklin1978
Wiking fan
Offline aos  
#19 Posted : 11 September 2017 12:11:08(UTC)
aos

Scotland   
Joined: 03/08/2008(UTC)
Posts: 524
Location: Livingston, Scotland
Hi Marco, sorry to this bad news. I shall keep an eye open up here in Scotland. Alan
Offline IanC  
#20 Posted : 11 September 2017 16:44:12(UTC)
IanC

United Kingdom   
Joined: 05/03/2016(UTC)
Posts: 347
Location: England, Bedford
Hi Marco,

I'll keep a vigilant eye out around the Bedfordshire area for you, and also anything suspicious I see at the treff in Goppingen.

I hope the thieves don't know what they're doing. Trying to dispose of 3 rail on the British scene should stand out like a sore thumb.

Ian C
Offline Leitner  
#21 Posted : 11 September 2017 17:51:09(UTC)
Leitner

Taiwan, Province Of China   
Joined: 25/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 274
When did this happens? I saw some italian Lima AC trains including an ETR 220 for auction on ebay from a German dealer some time ago, I think one week, but it was not digitalized, only AC.

If you tell me some italian AC items you had I can keep an eye on Ebay, I collect some of them as well and if they come around I'll see them.
Ep. III (My layout is set in 1962).
I collect mainly DSB, DB and SBB but I'm quite... Open minded.
I'm quite a big collector of NOHAB lok :)
Offline steventrain  
#22 Posted : 11 September 2017 18:29:24(UTC)
steventrain

United Kingdom   
Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC)
Posts: 31,606
Location: United Kingdom
I have put alert on irish modelling forum.

Hope it find safe and return.

Have you try contact Facebook some buy and Sell model train etc?
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy.
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Offline baggio  
#23 Posted : 11 September 2017 18:42:26(UTC)
baggio

Canada   
Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,729
Location: Toronto
I did as well on 3R - list needed.
Offline spiderkjetil  
#24 Posted : 11 September 2017 20:03:23(UTC)
spiderkjetil

Norway   
Joined: 13/03/2015(UTC)
Posts: 17
Location: Norway
Sad news. I see from your list you have the Marklin 3143 (Norwegian NSB Di3). These are pretty rare to see around and I guess especially in UK. I was in an Exhibition in Glasgow 15 years ago and I think I saw just an handfull of Marklin trains in total.

Hope you will find your collection again!
Offline ocram63_uk  
#25 Posted : 11 September 2017 20:49:10(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
Hi everyone, this is the list of italian locos:

Rivarossi
R1491
1319
1408
R10488
HR 2812
HR 2192
HR 2233

HR 2839
HR 4024


Hornby
R 2339

Lima locos
208227-1
208513-1
L208022

Lima coaches
309119
L309136
L149615

ACME
60010

Roco
69114
43277
43375.2

Roco coaches
4300S
4315B
47526
46274
4477
44695
44152
44689
44778

Trix locos
22137
22532
4092
22117

All the equipment has been converted to digital, 3 rail obviously BigGrin

Thank you
Marco
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Offline baggio  
#26 Posted : 12 September 2017 18:12:36(UTC)
baggio

Canada   
Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,729
Location: Toronto
Stefano put your list on 3Rotaie - any particulars?
Offline Goofy  
#27 Posted : 12 September 2017 21:03:57(UTC)
Goofy


Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 9,019
Sad about your lost of the trains by the thief (s).
A tip is that to check after second hand market.
Possible they focus to sell the stolen trains model there.
H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
Offline steventrain  
#28 Posted : 12 September 2017 21:14:26(UTC)
steventrain

United Kingdom   
Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC)
Posts: 31,606
Location: United Kingdom
Originally Posted by: Goofy Go to Quoted Post
Sad about your lost of the trains by the thief (s).
A tip is that to check after second hand market.
Possible they focus to sell the stolen trains model there.



Marco and UK members - look out for toyfair/swapmeets in UK.
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy.
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Offline GlennM  
#29 Posted : 14 September 2017 13:00:51(UTC)
GlennM

United Kingdom   
Joined: 09/05/2011(UTC)
Posts: 2,886
Location: Somewhere, But Nowhere Near Manchester, England
Marco, this is very sad news, I hope with vigilance someone spots one the items and you are able to recover your collection and the culprits punished.

I will keep my eyes open

Best Regards
Don't look back, your not heading that way.
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Offline ocram63_uk  
#30 Posted : 17 September 2017 15:41:18(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
Good afternoon everyone,
after notifying a few traders of my event I came to the conclusion that all is lost.
I found an ebay seller, in the proximity of the area of the 'exfiltration' of my trains, that has for sale two items like mine. Was hoping it not to be a coincidence but it is, so far.

On the positive side of things though one thing I will definetely buy again is the 7051 crane, the rest of the vintage stuff I will not bother.

No more 2 to 3 rail conversions at all.

I'm left only with 5 Marklin locos at home, the ones I tried to sell last year but as there was no interest they haven't been stolen.

I salvaged the EcoS which is worth some money, thank God I don't have to buy again.

I bought a Hornby Flying Scotsman, 2 rail, to which I want to change the crappy Hornby sound decoder with an ESU and I found a UK shop that can load the orginal sounds, apparently. Bought last year.

I have a Rivarossi an italian E 431 triphase loco, to which I have to add a goods wagon with the pickup shoe so that I can probably use on my distant future layout, this too was bought last year to keep company to the other triphase loco E 432 now vanished.

So I have something to start off again with.

This time I will buy ready to run digital stuff, 3 rails only, and will not be interested into wasting time and money in things that can be improved or embellished, what is the point? Too bad for my youth's models I'm not going to buy them for a third time.

I'll keep looking on the web and see if I come across my stuff that as I was told by a few merchants unfortunately has no market here in UK as it is continental stuff not much sought after in this ocuntry.

Will keep you posted. Have a great evening and thank you for your support.
Marco

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Offline Goofy  
#31 Posted : 17 September 2017 17:02:54(UTC)
Goofy


Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 9,019
Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post


This time I will buy ready to run digital stuff, 3 rails only, and will not be interested into wasting time and money in things that can be improved or embellished, what is the point? Too bad for my youth's models I'm not going to buy them for a third time.
Will keep you posted. Have a great evening and thank you for your support.
Marco



What manufacture are you going to buy for the three rail?
You will mix?
H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
Offline ocram63_uk  
#32 Posted : 17 September 2017 18:13:08(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
I'll stick to Marklin and Trix, obviously.
If Roco or somebody else makes models ready to run for 3 rails I might consider them as long as they are Epoch III
Offline kimballthurlow  
#33 Posted : 18 September 2017 01:57:02(UTC)
kimballthurlow

Australia   
Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 6,669
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
.....

Already written to all the auction houses yesterday evening.

This is the list of the Marklin items:
....

Thank you
Marco


Hi Marco,
I have written to a dealer in Germany, who does buy second-hand Marklin, to keep an eye out.
Certainly a long shot .... but you never know.

Kimball
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge.
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Offline cookee_nz  
#34 Posted : 18 September 2017 08:07:40(UTC)
cookee_nz

New Zealand   
Joined: 31/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 3,955
Location: Paremata, Wellington
Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
Good afternoon everyone,
after notifying a few traders of my event I came to the conclusion that all is lost.

(snip)

Will keep you posted. Have a great evening and thank you for your support.
Marco



Hi Marco,

1: Sorry for the loss of your items, it would be devastating.

2: No one else has mentioned yet but many of those Märklin locos listed were manufactured since they started issuing Serial numbers.

Did you by any chance also record the Serial numbers of the items? If not, why not? (not being judgmental about it, just wondering why not).

If you did, it would be worth editing your earlier list and adding the serial numbers alongside. You know it's often said about "the long arm of the law" - it's quite possible some of these items may not appear on the market for some time (if ever) but having the serial numbers recorded will give something that can be referred to in future.

Yes I know the serial number can be removed, but crims are often thick and many simply would not think of it. A single item missing a serial number, ok/ But if I was buying a few, from the same seller, and noticed all the S/N's missing, I'd be thinking very carefully about it indeed.

For anyone else reading, I can only encourage you to check each of your items, record the serial numbers that do exist (including your controllers), and I might add it can also be worthwhile investing in an ultra-violet anti-theft marker pen and put a consistent mark somewhere discrete but easy to check on ALL of your items.

A: Yes it will take some time but very worthwhile.

B: If you provide the list to your insurance company, you can often negotiate a reduced premium or excess because you increase the chances of identification and possible recovery. There are other innovative ways to mark or identify an item without affecting its value.

C: If you sell anything you have marked, either obliterate/erase the mark, or be sure and advise any purchaser that the item is marked.

Cheers

Cookee
NZ
Cookee
Wellington
NZ image
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Offline ocram63_uk  
#35 Posted : 18 September 2017 15:51:08(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
1) thank you cooke!

2) haven't recorded the S/N. Never felt the need to. It is like a computer's backup, I guess. Will do from now on

I'm no addicted ebayer but I've seen quite a few of models like the ones stolen appearing on a merchant's site.
If one or two could be a mere coincidence I don't think that 4 identical Marklin hoppers, 1 set of Roco cargos, 1 Marklin fire brigade train set is a coincidence anymore, not to mention the 7051 crane in the yellow box and the Rivarossi engine.

What do you guys think about this 'strange' happening?

On another merchant's site I have seen Italian Roco coaches where on the boxes it is clearly visible the name of the shops in Milan where I have bought them when I liveedthere. Coincidence as well?

I do not know what to do. Ask for a quote for the whole lot and see what they come up with?
Strangely enough it is not the engines they are selling, yet, but just minor things. Rollign stock. Can we call it coincidence?

Thank you for your help
Marco

Offline alan  
#36 Posted : 18 September 2017 16:56:00(UTC)
alan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 20/06/2012(UTC)
Posts: 225
Location: devon

hi marco

unless they were stolen by a pair of smackheads who will offload as soon as possible
i very much doubt if your stuff will surface for a year or two

they are unlikely to appear in auction houses or sites like ebay as the seller would have to give their bank details

i think they have already been stashed away for a few years till they cool off
then they will start appearing in twos and threes

sorry i am not very helpful but i really hope you get your stuff back

i will keep my eyes open for you

alan plymouth
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Offline kimballthurlow  
#37 Posted : 19 September 2017 01:04:11(UTC)
kimballthurlow

Australia   
Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 6,669
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
1) thank you cooke!

2) haven't recorded the S/N. Never felt the need to. It is like a computer's backup, I guess. Will do from now on

I'm no addicted ebayer but I've seen quite a few of models like the ones stolen appearing on a merchant's site.
If one or two could be a mere coincidence I don't think that 4 identical Marklin hoppers, 1 set of Roco cargos, 1 Marklin fire brigade train set is a coincidence anymore, not to mention the 7051 crane in the yellow box and the Rivarossi engine.

What do you guys think about this 'strange' happening?

On another merchant's site I have seen Italian Roco coaches where on the boxes it is clearly visible the name of the shops in Milan where I have bought them when I liveedthere. Coincidence as well?

I do not know what to do. Ask for a quote for the whole lot and see what they come up with?
Strangely enough it is not the engines they are selling, yet, but just minor things. Rollign stock. Can we call it coincidence?

Thank you for your help
Marco



Hi Marco,
I would contact those sellers (asssuming they have a shop or online presence outside of eBay) and report your stolen list to them.

regards
Kimball
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge.
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Offline river6109  
#38 Posted : 19 September 2017 02:16:37(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,726
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
Originally Posted by: alan Go to Quoted Post

hi marco

unless they were stolen by a pair of smackheads who will offload as soon as possible
i very much doubt if your stuff will surface for a year or two

they are unlikely to appear in auction houses or sites like ebay as the seller would have to give their bank details

i think they have already been stashed away for a few years till they cool off
then they will start appearing in twos and threes

sorry i am not very helpful but i really hope you get your stuff back

i will keep my eyes open for you

alan plymouth


Alan,

it all depends on their intelligence, I hope there is some luck coming Marco's way.


John

not related to this topic: I've just watched the biggest diamond heist in Brussels, it took 2 1/2 years in preparing the theft and it took less than a day of identifying the thieves by leaving a rubbish bag in the woods with all their particulars in it, (they suppose to burn it and staying undetected as they thought some one was coming, they've left the scene.

https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
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Offline Rwill  
#39 Posted : 19 September 2017 08:18:14(UTC)
Rwill

United Kingdom   
Joined: 04/05/2015(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: England, London
I am perplexed

What you are saying is that a group of items from your list has appeared on EBay. The seller is relatively local to you. The items are well described and detailed photographs. For example the 7051 has a detail of a well corroded underside to the control box - if that was mine I would know it was mine. You have presumably notified the police of the theft. Surely now it is lights and sirens time from the police and ebay
Online Carim  
#40 Posted : 19 September 2017 09:47:28(UTC)
Carim

United Kingdom   
Joined: 15/09/2014(UTC)
Posts: 653
Location: London
Originally Posted by: Rwill Go to Quoted Post
Surely now it is lights and sirens time from the police and ebay


I don't know what action ebay would take, but I know that in the UK, burglaries are about bottom of the list when it comes to police priorities. I remember reading about similar cases with stolen bicycles and in the end the owners resorted to stealing the bikes back from the thieves......something the police did not recommend doing!

Carim

Offline Rwill  
#41 Posted : 19 September 2017 10:13:17(UTC)
Rwill

United Kingdom   
Joined: 04/05/2015(UTC)
Posts: 777
Location: England, London
Originally Posted by: Carim Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: Rwill Go to Quoted Post
Surely now it is lights and sirens time from the police and ebay


I don't know what action ebay would take, but I know that in the UK, burglaries are about bottom of the list when it comes to police priorities. I remember reading about similar cases with stolen bicycles and in the end the owners resorted to stealing the bikes back from the thieves......something the police did not recommend doing!

Carim



Although I agree with you - surely if you have a crime number and the police are not interested in action then Ebay must surely take action if nothing else supply the name and address of the seller

Offline ocram63_uk  
#42 Posted : 10 November 2017 18:02:38(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
good evening everyone, this is the last and final update on this event.
The Police has archived the investigation. They got in touch with the ebay seller I told them about and it appears that this guy has bought the items at a car boot sale in his area, Norwich.
These are cash in hand transactions that leave no trace.
I have the name of the area of this car boot sale and next spring I'll go and have look and if I still want my stuff I'll have to buy it back, again. There is no proof that these were my models in any case. Cars have license plates models do not.
This thaught me a lesson, the 6 remaining items I managed to save have all been marked in various places that do not stick out immediately and I've written down the serial numbers of the couple that have them.
Have a nice evening
Marco
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Offline mike c  
#43 Posted : 10 November 2017 20:56:59(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 7,898
Location: Montreal, QC
It can never hurt to put some kind of identifying mark somewhere in the box. The styrofoam could be removed from the older boxes and you could leave a code or some marking under one of the folds of the cardboard. On the newer boxes, you could mark the inside of the cradle or of the sleeve. Some people put color markings inside the shell. I have seen some hobby items where a code or symbol was scratched into the metal using an etching tool.

If you report an item to ebay as suspicious and mention that it looks like a model that was stolen from you. Surely the fact that the seller is listing multiple items that correspond to your missing items must factor in in their final decision whether to block the listing or not. Possession may be 9/10th of the law, but surely not having any invoices or proof and reporting that you bought it from the back of somebody's car should factor into the reporters' favour.

Regards

Mike C
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Offline ocram63_uk  
#44 Posted : 01 April 2018 10:39:05(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
UPDATE

last week I saw, always from the same seller, some other engines of mine, tried bidding but have been blocked by this guy.

Today I went back to this guy's shop and he is listing some more of the locos I had bought through the years, undeniably mine. How could they appear in a UK listing?

I alerted the Police about this but haven't got any reply.

Happy Easter everyone Bored

Marco
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Offline steventrain  
#45 Posted : 01 April 2018 11:41:39(UTC)
steventrain

United Kingdom   
Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC)
Posts: 31,606
Location: United Kingdom
Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
UPDATE

I alerted the Police about this but haven't got any reply.

Happy Easter everyone Bored

Marco


Email? You try to phone police to contact ebay to removed listings early.

Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy.
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Offline baggio  
#46 Posted : 01 April 2018 14:18:26(UTC)
baggio

Canada   
Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,729
Location: Toronto
Better still, Marco, go to SEE the cops and get them to GO to this guy's place to confiscate the stolen property.

Let us know how you make out.

Happy Easter to you and everyone on the forum. BigGrin

Silvano
Offline jcrtrains  
#47 Posted : 01 April 2018 16:29:01(UTC)
jcrtrains

Canada   
Joined: 31/10/2009(UTC)
Posts: 597
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Originally Posted by: ocram63_uk Go to Quoted Post
UPDATE

last week I saw, always from the same seller, some other engines of mine, tried bidding but have been blocked by this guy.

Today I went back to this guy's shop and he is listing some more of the locos I had bought through the years, undeniably mine. How could they appear in a UK listing?

I alerted the Police about this but haven't got any reply.

Happy Easter everyone Bored

Marco


If you feel it is appropriate, what is the name of the seller? If a number of people question the dealer on goods of questionable origin, he may be embarrassed enough to stop and do the right thing.
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Offline alan  
#48 Posted : 01 April 2018 18:19:57(UTC)
alan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 20/06/2012(UTC)
Posts: 225
Location: devon

marco can you postitivly prove that the seller is selling your stolen property
if not you could end up being accused of wasting police time

how did the seller know your ebay username so he could block you?

if you want to bid open a second ebay account or get a friend to bid for you

be careful
alan plymouth
Offline steventrain  
#49 Posted : 01 April 2018 19:01:53(UTC)
steventrain

United Kingdom   
Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC)
Posts: 31,606
Location: United Kingdom
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy.
Offline ocram63_uk  
#50 Posted : 01 April 2018 19:27:51(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
in November I filed a complaint to the Police, gave them the list of my stolen collection and they said they would investigate. They came back to me saying 'can you prove they are yours ?'
The also told me that they were going to speak with the seller, they did and the seller said he had bought stuff at a boot sale. The Police stopped here.

The point is that I can't prove they are mine as I have collected them over 20 years.

The only thing I know is that all the analogue Marklin engines have been converted to digital, 3047, 3071, 3077 and so on and he describes the items as 'not tested as I do not have the right controller'.
Some of the 2 rail engines have been converted to use a goods car with a pickup shoe to power them.

I bought from this guy the goods wagon with the pickup shoe only as it was a 'Buy it now' a few months ago.

I don't know why he banned me from bidding. Did the Police tell him I filed a complaint against him? Who knows.

I'm not saying he's the 'thief', but he knows where he gets the stuff and especially in this quantity. I don't think it is a coincidence at this stage. What do you think ?

The models he's selling, as of today, are all Italian ones, one is an edition I bought in the 90s when my son was born and these models have no market in UK. My collection followed most of the Italian era 3 and these are the ones he's selling. I had friends bid for me but they lost the bids, as it normally happens in these things.

Last week he manged to sell a 3071 and a 3077 digitalised, I could not get hold of them otherwise I could have opened them and checked how the digital conversion had been made. I have always used the best techniques and components to do this kind of job !! I was a reference for some of my dealers!!!

I wrote him asking to buy stuff but he never eve replied.

HTH

Marco

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