Stolen at K.O.I.

LAST EDITED ON Feb-02-04 AT 03:23 PM (CDT)
 
Hi all

I hate to even think about this, and can't imagine anyone I have ever met in this hobby stealing things ,but this has happened to me 3 times so far at contest.
I had Stolen:
1 -FOX 35 with a smith hemi head cnc backplate and 1 one the brand new Smith H.Z. cranks in it, it should be numbered #95 or 97.
1- PA 61 RE should have serial number 395 on it
and
1- Satio 72 four stroke

all engines were new in box, If by any slight chance anyone sees any of these, I would ,naturally like to be informed

Thanks

Randy Smith

Randy,

Sorry to say that the stunt community in general is simply a microcosm of socienty in general. I think you get the idea.
I will keep my eyes open. Sorry I missed the contest being out at sea. Since my professional arena lies in the area of security I
tend to keep my eyes open for suspicious goings on.

Randy,

While it is unlikely that I might come across any of your stolen engines clear up here in the NW, do be advised that should such take place all would be returned.

Along with severed fingers. Look for a box shipped via refrigerated truck.

Interestingly enough, at the Puyallup (it's an Indian name, for those outside this area it is pronounced "Puyallup," just as written) show this weekend my swap-meet partner Mike Conner left his van unlocked on Sunday. Yep, **all day** Sunday. With over $1,000 worth of collectible engines laying on a seat and in plain view. Plenty more of same out of sight.

Not a single piece was pilfered.

Mike was stunned, I was not. You see, every year, on the same weekend, there is a really large gun show held on the same fairgrounds, literally next door to our model show.

There is no safer, more secure place to be or park your car.

Randy, let it be known you have a concealed-carry permit and are packin'.

Hope you get it all back.

>Hi all
>
>I hate to even think about this, and can't imagine anyone I
>have ever met in this hobby stealing things ,but this has
>happened to me 3 times so far at contest.
>I had Stolen:
>1 -FOX 35 with a smith hemi head cnc backplate and 1 one the
>brand new Smith H.Z. cranks in it, it should be numbered
>#95 or 97.
>1- PA 61 RE should have serial number 395 on it
>and
> 1- Satio 72 four stroke
>
>all engines were new in box, If by any slight chance anyone
> sees any of these, I would ,naturally like to be informed

Oh, geez. Not only is this criminal, it's painfully moronic. I can't imagine trying to sell this to the 100 people who might be interested, and still not get caught. Or, Joe Blow shows up at a contest with a brand new PA61 and no one is going to look at it? He can neither safely sell it, nor safely use it. Brilliant.

I agree this is an outrageous act, and probably the work of a complete fool. Needless to say the crook probably lacks the brain power to actually use the PA-61, but if they get fenced anywhere, I would look for them on ebay. There are enough "extra" buyers there that the "100 or so people actually interested in a PA" might never see it before it gets bought by some Joe Blow who wants to put it on his flea market ringmaster. The Saito and the Fox would be even easier to unload there.
The only time I lock my stuff (not that anybody would want to steal anything I've got anyway) is at the hotel. At the contest site my junk is scattered everywhere. But there are some people who walk off with stuff. I was astounded at the litany of stuff that gets ripped off at Brodaks every year. Clearly one or more of those types made the road trip to KOI.....

Randy,

I'm so sorry to hear that anyone would do something like that to a fellow modeler. I can only hope that the scum that did this is not part of our hobby. I really enjoyed meeting you and you taking the time to fill me in on the SV series and which was what. I got Gene's plane back home up north here and now I'm glad.

I left that brand new ( to me anyway ) SV-22 that I bought from Gene outside all day next to the motorhome unattended most of the time. I know it's bigger than an engine, but if they have the balls to jack some engines, then they won't think twice about that either I guess.

I still need to get another PA-61RE and hope that I can get one of those from you. It won't be an out of the trunk deal that starts off with some guy going "PSSSST Hey Buddy". If I see the motor you can bet you'll be getting it back! Anyway, I'll call or write you about the engine I need.

That just plain sucks, sorry to hear this.

>That just plain sucks, sorry to hear this.

Exactly. I also hope you get your property back, with or without fingers. I recall that Dave Fitzgerald had some PA's stolen from his garage or shop, and would like to know that they got back to him. I think it's a good idea to keep spare stuff locked up AND out of sight. Better to avoid tempting someone, than to lose faith in your fellow modelers. JMHO. Steve

One of the few things I liked about Saudi Arabia (1992) was that stealing was a non-issue. When you consider the penalties, it made sense. (And you thought sticking your finger into a 13-6 at 10K was bad).

For example, when going out for dinner in my Range Rover, I could park it, place a $100 bill (or its riyal equivalent) on the hood of the vehicle, and a Rolex on top of the bill to keep it from blowing away. You also could put a "steal me" sign beside it.

Guaranteed: when you got back to your car, everything would be there.

Shame re the KOI incident. Fencing it would only bring a dime on the dollar, and trying to resell within the hobby would unmask you in a jiffy.

Since we have a problem with someone or someones with sticky fingers, it is time to announce this to the entire stunt community ala Stunt News and by every CD at all contests where vendors display their wares. Then everyone can keep an eye out for suspicious behavior and report same. This will either stop the less than honorable activity or result in the apprehension of the perpetrator. I am curious if Tom Morris, Walter Umland and Tom Dixon experienced the same at the KOI? I do know that this has happened at the last two Brodaks. We need to police ourselves.

Tom, and all

Tom Morris usually has my wife Janet keep an eye out and collect revenues while he is away or distracted - at the contests that we attend anyway. Since we were at the last Brodak meet I don't think that he came up missing anything. Possibly some of the flyers wives could be used to watch over vendors wares while they are away doing other things instead of just sitting idly by. I know my wife prefers to be active doing something instead of just sitting.

>Since we have a problem with someone or someones with sticky
>fingers, it is time to announce this to the entire stunt
>community ala Stunt News and by every CD at all contests
>where vendors display their wares. Then everyone can keep
>an eye out for suspicious behavior and report same. This
>will either stop the less than honorable activity or result
>in the apprehension of the perpetrator. I am curious if Tom
>Morris, Walter Umland and Tom Dixon experienced the same at
>the KOI? I do know that this has happened at the last two
>Brodaks. We need to police ourselves.

I agree with the Colonel! Its a shame that we have a thief in our midst. It almost makes me ill as I usually think of thieves being youngsters but that really is not a majority in our hobby. So chances are we have a middle aged man stealing like a pubescent brat. If that person is reading this beware that the community is watching!

John Sunderland

I was there with all my wares out on the table, but to most of the people at KOI I was invisible, but just in case you meant to include me- No I had nothing stolen.
RO

>One of the few things I liked about Saudi Arabia (1992) was
>that stealing was a non-issue. When you consider the
>penalties, it made sense. (And you thought sticking your
>finger into a 13-6 at 10K was bad).
>
>Currell

Harsh penalties just wouldn't go over very well in North America. They would likely be viewed by some individuals as contravening the constitutional right of the perpetrator to earn a decent living. The legal beagles would have a hey day over that one.

Randy and All,

Several years ago I had a bunch of engines to sell at the Puyallup (see above post for accurate guide to pronunciation) RC show/Swap Meet. As I had previously seen a couple small pieces "go missing" at this deal, I knew of the potential for theft.

My solution, not perfect granted, was to make sure each and every engine had a prop firmly bolted in place. A large prop. Makes it just a little more difficult to slide under a shirt.

Three-blade props would be even better. Possibly I can refer you to the U.S. agent for Bolly props.

Added at the list moment: At the same show I had a big wad of Ruskie-produced RC Pattern 60s. Each and every motor put on display had not only a monster APC 12-12N installed, they had headers and pipes fitted. Didn't lose a one of them.

Caution: Installation of a $50.00 prop, $30.00 spinner, $30.00 header, $90.00 tuned pipe on a box-stock and well-worn Fox 35 may prove counter-productive, even if there would be a certain amount of value in seeing how a rascal might get such an assembly hidden away on his person.

I am sending out Randy's message via club email and by the club newsletter. I ask all of the rest of us to do the same. The chances of catching the perpetrator goes up with the widest dessimination of the information. I don't know why, but I believe the guilty are the same bunch that have plagued the Brodak over the last two years.

I guess we should start scouring RCOnline for someone wanting a carb for his Fox 35!

I think Tom is right, just bringing it to light will be most effective. I for one have never thought anything of routing through Tom's trailer when he wasn't there. I have even given him $10 for a tank at one end of the field, then went and got my loot. Which means someone likely observed me (not well known) go into his trailer, get whatever and leave with it, and never asked me about it. I probably would have been offended if they did, but I won't now.

I have never really thought to keep an eye out for theft. Guess it's the optimist in me.

Hey Randy (and other vendors), do you guys really have a handle on the pilfering situation? Do you count small consumables before and after? My dad owned a store when I was a kid. At one point, my dad quietly came and got me, and pointed out a guy running around the store stealing stuff. I was shocked. Having spend YEARS in the store (us kids would frequently be the only ones in the store running the cash register), I had never seen someone stealing stuff. After that education, I realized it was pretty common. A quick "something" that let them know they were being watched was all it took. Pointing something out about their car was the best, ie "I see your car tags say you're from Lincoln, I have a friend who lives in Lincoln!"

Sorry to hear it, I hope we find something out that helps.

Tools

LAST EDITED ON Feb-04-04 AT 08:23 AM (CDT)
 
>One of the few things I liked about Saudi Arabia (1992) was
>that stealing was a non-issue. When you consider the
>penalties, it made sense. (And you thought sticking your
>finger into a 13-6 at 10K was bad).
>
>For example, when going out for dinner in my Range Rover, I
>could park it, place a $100 bill (or its riyal equivalent)
>on the hood of the vehicle, and a Rolex on top of the bill
>to keep it from blowing away. You also could put a "steal
>me" sign beside it.
>
>Guaranteed: when you got back to your car, everything would
>be there.
>
>Shame re the KOI incident. Fencing it would only bring a
>dime on the dollar, and trying to resell within the hobby
>would unmask you in a jiffy.
>

>Currell

When I was there (1991-92) you would lose your money and your watch.
To many American GI's in country.

The years should have been (1990-91)

I was in Tabuk. The war had been over for a while. People were relatively laid back up there. Except for the Religious Police.

Not a whole lot CL going on, either. Currell

This summer one of our Show Team members had TWO plane ripped off. Never been found.

I will post this in our news letter

TWo years ago I had a rebuilt ST 46 stolen at Brodak and one friend of mine had a kit stolen and another friend had a engine stolen off his display bench. I have been more careful how I show my stuff. Gosh, I hate to be this way. The stunt community has been so wonderful all these years.

I hate to think I have to lock up the truck at contests now, for years I've left it open even at free flight meets where I might be away for hours chasing. I guess we all have to be a little more vigilant and let them know we're watching. I don't want to have to lock everything up, that's just like going to Meijer's or Walmart!

My Dad lost a real nice , restored Ringmaster last year at KOI. Blue/yellow with navy marks. His # is 4029. Very pretty with nice details. If anyone sees this plane, please give me a call, thanks.
Mike Ogren 352/796/1985 days. [email protected]

Seeing how most of us are on a honor system it makes it easy for those who aren't to steal. Who would think that they would be stealing? Probably look just like any other modeler out there and thats why they blend in so easily. A real shame and it puts a drag on our activities. Good luck to all that have had something stolen in getting it back.

Bill

Hey guys..
Remember; People rarely steal what they need;they just steal for the thrill.
25 years ago, churches were locked only at night,now they have alarm systems and some times people to patrol the premises for car part stealing while the sermon is being delivered.
The times they are a changing.
As they used to say in boxing"Protect yourself at all times"

Randy,

they can steal your stuff, but not your excelency!

This guy will not be able to sell, or even to fly it in public.

Since he's in our midst, I say:

Why don't you return that stuff to Randy?

He'll forgive you and you'll avoid the risk of gettin caught and becoming a felon.

Get smart...

You might get your engines back, Randy.

If not, there are more where those came from...

God bless ya!

Mr. Smith, my wife and I were at the contest and I said to Kathy, I don't even think I need to lock the truck up. All the people we met were all fantastic and very friendly. I learned a lot about this hobby of control line flying and we had a great time. I am very sorry to have read about the theft of your engines. I hope you get them back. We enjoyed your flying very much and the win. Looking forward to next year.

Ray "Bear" Hoffman
"Bearkat"
AMA 38884

Randy,
It is very sad to think that stunt fliers would stoop to theft.
As many years as we have gone to contests and left the vans open without concern, it seems that that is no longer possible.
I spent a few minutes watching Tom's trailer while he was test flying a client's plane, and if you need help we would be happy to watch your stuff when possible.
Bill <><

>Mr. Smith, my wife and I were at the contest and I said to Kathy, I don't even think I need to lock the truck up.

I was also at the KOI(alone)on Saturday only and had a couple of engines, both less expensive than Randy's engines out for sale. I left them on the tailgate with explanatory materials while I was all up and down the strip flying and watching. Eventually, something told me that this was not smart, particularly since the engines were getting no interest so I put them out of sight. Guess it's a good thing.
A real shame that we can't safely leave our stuff on the tailgate at contests.