Transformers collection stolen

[snaketales]

For those who don't know the collection of a long-time member on here has been stolen. Keep an eye out for suspicious online listings.
Also made the front page of the print edition this week.

Story here (https://www.perthnow.com.au/local-news/perthnow-central/transformers-fans-on-lookout-after-50000-collection-stolen-from-victoria-park-c-9174531)

[KELPIE]

Pretty terrible news.

I didn't think things like the Nike Shoes or the Binaltecs were worth much? Needless to say, that's not the point.

Is there anything specific I should keep an eye out for?

[Skyfire]

Smart guy to put up security cameras in case they came back, which they did. I hope the police can make use of the camera images. It looks like he was cased, which makes me think the criminals are local to the Vic Park surroundings. And that makes me wonder if they might offload the goods at the upcoming Nexus Toy Fair in East Vic Park on Jan 14.

[valkyrie_76]

Smart guy to put up security cameras in case they came back, which they did. I hope the police can make use of the camera images. It looks like he was cased, which makes me think the criminals are local to the Vic Park surroundings. And that makes me wonder if they might offload the goods at the upcoming Nexus Toy Fair in East Vic Park on Jan 14.

Oh dont you worry, we WILL be looking out.


Pretty terrible news.

I didn't think things like the Nike Shoes or the Binaltecs were worth much? Needless to say, that's not the point.

Is there anything specific I should keep an eye out for?

Over 30 boxes if TFs including Fort, Grand and Brave Max, Pristine G1 Megs, Jetfire, Blue Bacchus and Metalhawk, yeah you will be surprised on how quickly it all adds up.

[griffin]

Unless it was a hardcore Transformers fan keeping everything for their own collection, it will be impossible to sell a lot of the rarer items without someone in the local fandom spotting it.
Just Blue Baccus alone (the blue redeco Pretender Crossblades from 1989, only in Japan) would be big news among fans here if one was found on ebay by an Australian seller, or at an Australian collectors fair, because it is so rare and expensive overseas. It is so rare that I would be surprised if there were more than 5 in this country.
Even I don't have one, because of how much it goes for... so I think one like that would be one to look out for (from anywhere in Australia, as this collection could have been driven inter-state to sell it off, to avoid being found by the original owner or his friends).

[griffin]

Also keep an eye out at upcoming Conventions (Supanova and Comic Con) in ANY state, as a person selling toys at a one of those events would not look out of place, and would only take a small investment (the cost of a table and the cost of shipping them to another state) to make a fair bit of money off hundreds of toys that they got for free.

[Kyle]

Over 30 boxes if TFs including Fort, Grand and Brave Max, Pristine G1 Megs, Jetfire, Blue Bacchus and Metalhawk, yeah you will be surprised on how quickly it all adds up.

Think he mentioned his boxed G1 Victory Leo (just the lion single pack) was missing too :(

[snaketales]

I couldn't list in the article everything that was stolen because A it would have been too long and B wouldn't mean much to the general readership. I figured those in TF fandom would know what to look for, or a comprehensive list could be posted online.

[Kyle]

I couldn't list in the article everything that was stolen because A it would have been too long and B wouldn't mean much to the general readership. I figured those in TF fandom would know what to look for, or a comprehensive list could be posted online.

Thanks for going above and beyond to help out a fellow member/collector. Much respect.

[griffin]

I couldn't list in the article everything that was stolen because A it would have been too long and B wouldn't mean much to the general readership. I figured those in TF fandom would know what to look for, or a comprehensive list could be posted online.

That's right, you work at a Perth paper... so that was your article?
It read quite well for regular people, so you did a good job to make a point of the theft without it being bogged down by geek content... because as you say, if we get a full list of items, we will be able to target the fans directly with that side of the issue.

[snaketales]

That's right, you work at a Perth paper... so that was your article?
It read quite well for regular people, so you did a good job to make a point of the theft without it being bogged down by geek content... because as you say, if we get a full list of items, we will be able to target the fans directly with that side of the issue.

Yes I wrote the article and headline. Thanks for the comment, I was mindful the piece needed to be generally accessible.
Hopefully it will help.

[Kranix]

Some pleasant and supportive posts in the comments section of that article...

I hope this collector can get his items returned!

[zaneiken]

Saw it on NineMSN today:

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/man-s-prized-50-000-action-figure-collection-stolen/vi-AA15B2wZ

[snaketales]

Like how they tagged it as a "Nine exclusive"....a day after the story first came out.

[griffin]

I guess they are referring to it being an exclusive video story, as opposed to an exclusive story in general (the wording is always intentionally vague to allow them to mean anything).
Just like when the TV stations announce a "movie premiere", despite it already screening before... but it is a premiere to that specific channel. (a couple weeks ago channel 9 were advertising the movie premiere of "Justice League", which had already screened twice on Seven, so it was only referring to it being a first time on their channel, not TV in general)

[griffin]

I just watched it, and I see that it must have been on the prime-time news on channel nine?
I wonder if it was just screened in the Perth news, or included in their other state broadcasts.
(it must have been on tv last night, as it was uploaded to their site at 9pm my time, which is 7pm Perth time)

[CyberiusPrime]

I am in the insurance industry and usually home and contents insurance policies will cover up to $10,000 per item, set or collection.
My advice to anyone is get your collection valued and keep that valuation so in the event of an incident you can have all of this info on hand.

[Trent]

I am in the insurance industry and usually home and contents insurance policies will cover up to $10,000 per item, set or collection.
My advice to anyone is get your collection valued and keep that valuation so in the event of an incident you can have all of this info on hand.

How would you even get a TF collection valued?

[CyberiusPrime]

There is someone who does provide a valuation service for transformers, anime and model rails. I can't remember his name, i'll try and dig it up from somewhere

[Dimi194]

There is someone who does provide a valuation service for transformers, anime and model rails. I can't remember his name, i'll try and dig it up from somewhere

Yes please! I've got 'extra' collection insurance and have taken pictures, but not really sure how I'd explain the value of a CW Silverbot...

[griffin]

The existing "Insurance" topic can be found here - http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php/4421
It is over 13 years old, so it has a lot of stuff added to it over the years... so scan through all of the pages to make sure you don't miss something important amongst all of the comments posts.

[KELPIE]

There is someone who does provide a valuation service for transformers, anime and model rails. I can't remember his name, i'll try and dig it up from somewhere

My collections spread from Transformers, to statues, to books, to boardgames.... Don't know where I'd start in insuring it.

That said, until my display room is up and running I'm a terrible example, since I wouldn't be able to tell you exactly what I have in boxes stored anyway.