• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Stolen collection - Vista California
1 1

55 posts in this topic

Storage units are notorious for theft in general. Never used one but have heard of a number of people losing stuff to thieves. I knew someone who lost stuff while using one while moving. It was a inside job by an employee which sad to say happens more often than not. I’m on the coast from you and aside from  using a storage facility but also using one located in Vista it probably increased your odds at theft. If the books lasted a while there without problem I’m guessing it was either an employee who noticed the unit wasn’t getting much attention from visits or someone who knew you had the books stored there. I seriously doubt this was a random break in. Possible but less likely than the other two situations happening. I’d start backtracking on who might know you had the books there. Might be as simple as someone who knew about the books but mentioning it to the wrong person. If it’s an employee at the storage they either noticed you had comics on the move in or as I said decided to check it out if left unattended for a while. With that besides comic shops I’d check the “dark web” sources for stolen comics with Craigslist and Instagram. When I lost some books a few years ago by theft (mostly recovered) local law enforcement pointed me over to both sites and surprisingly had tabs on a couple of sellers there. Some people may not actually steal books but still have no problem selling stolen property so law enforcement helped pointing some out there. Otherwise if it’s a collector they might just sit on the books as part of their collection now. Sorry to hear this story either way. Theft is tough but sadly common in comics collecting. Good luck!

Edited by N e r V
Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, LongingForKrypton said:

Thanks for all the support and the suggestions, everyone!

I will definitely contact those places that I haven't already been in touch with.

Don't forget pawn shops, people look to make quick cash and would drop them at places like this. Email as many as you can in so cal. 

Also, some of the bigger keys can be entered into eBay under saved searches in case any of them pop up that look familiar.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've used about a half dozen storage units since I moved west( I have two 22 foot containers right now) and no employee has ever had access to my units. I have my own locks, not purchased from the places, and there is no  way anyone else can access them. 

Edited by shadroch
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My sympathies for the victim. Hopefully with well documented photographs and scans the community may be able to find particular books stolen in the collection but this will take lots of time.  It may be some time before these books are recirculated. 
 

If not a safety deposit box at a major bank, I highly suggest storing your big investments in your own well secured home (adt premium 69.99 a month package with the 6 cameras OR for only 3.99 a month Ring is an option there are many viable options to safely   Secure your collection. 
 

Also discretion plays a major factor. When networking on facebook or Instagram try not to brag or flaunt unless you have good security!
 

Thanks bob for taking the time to help a fellow collector. good luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/8/2021 at 12:23 PM, LongingForKrypton said:

I am the guy whose comic collection was stolen in Vista, CA.

Thanks for the support and sympathy from my fellow collectors.  It is appreciated.

For those wondering why I put the comics into storage in the first place, it's because I was going abroad, and now I am staying longer than originally planned.  I have been in London since the beginning of the pandemic, and that's the reason I wasn't able to check in on the comics for awhile.

As Bob mentioned, the list he gave is just the more notable key issues.  The entire collection that was stolen was about 6,000+ books.  They were in about 15 long boxes plus several smaller boxes, and they pretty much filled the storage unit.  Here is a more extensive list of the more notable series, and I'm uploading JPGs of the full list:

Adventure  247,267,293,300-304,306-308,310-312,317,319,323,331-332,334,336,343-344,346,351-352,357,380,431-434,438-440
 
Amazing Spider-Man 2-7,9,11-19,21,23-25,27-28,30-31,33-34,36,38-42,46,48,50-52,54-55,63,65-66, 68-70,75,78,80,83,86,104,106,122,129
King-Size Annual 2, Annual 10-11, King-Size Special 3,5
 
The Brave and the Bold 28,30,34-36,42,60,79,81,87,91,92,94-101,103-111,116,118-120
 
Cerebus 1-300
 
Daredevil (v1,1964) 1-21,24,27,28, 30,33-35,37-39,43,44,50,52,55,57,60,67,70-73,81-82,84,86-89,91-96,98-100,158-191
Special  1-3
 
Detective Comics 356,369,401,402,426,439,441,443-448,449-454,456-479,485,489,490,519,526-567,853
 
Doctor Strange (v1, 1968) 169-181
 
Fantastic Four (v1)  6-13,15-18,20-22,25-28,31-32,34,36-37,42,45,47,49-50,55,57,101,150, 232-293
King-Size Annual/Special 1-4,9,17-19,  Giant-Size 4,6
 
Flash (1959) 105 (the only restored book in the collection),110-114,117-118,121,123,125,126,130,132,135-136,147,164,170,173,178,187,214,240,300
 
Green Lantern(v1) 93,94
 
Hawkman (1964) 18,20
 
Incredible Hulk (1962) 2-6
 
Journey Into Mystery 83-125
Annual 1
 
Justice League of America (v1, 1960)  1-4,8-9,14,16,19,22,24,25,27,29,62,75,93,123
 
Mystery In Space 53,56,58,62,66,68,70,72-74,81,83,87-96,99,100,102
 
Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (v1) 1-5,9,11,12,14,16-18
 
Showcase 18,34-36,59,61,73,82,85,101-103
 
Silver Surfer (v1,1968) 1-6,8,14-18
 
Strangers In Paradise
(v1, Antartic Press) 1-3
(v2, Abstract Studios, Sept ’94 – July ‘96) 1-14
(v3,Homage/Image, Oct ’96 – Abstract Studios) 1-90
 
Superboy (v1) 72-73,77-78,80-84,87-89,91,93-95,98,101-102,105,108,117,121,128, 130-131,134,136,139,147,168,170, 172,183,191,193,223,235,252
 
Superman 139,147-153,155,157,161-162,167-169,176,178,181,183,185-188,192-193,202,216,222,228,236,252,258,264,270,276,279,285,287,292-294,296,306,316,318,328,353,356
 
Tales of Suspense (v1) 39-47,50-52,56-58,60,68,77,79,84,89-90,93,99
 
Tales to Astonish (v1) 27,35,38,40,42-49,56,60,88,91
 
Thor 126-154,156,158-170,172-176,178,182-186,189,191-193,195,356
 
X-Men (v1) 2,4-5,7,10-12,17,25,33,35
 
None of these books were in CGC slabs (they were all in mylar bags), but some of them had been graded previously, and those had the CGC slip inside the mylar bag behind the backing board.  I wish I had a list of which books had CGC slips, but unfortunately, I don't.  However, the books were all in very nice condition, mostly at least 8.5 with a couple exceptions.   (Justice League #1 was in 8.2 condition, and Adventure #247 was in 7.5 condition, but I don't think I had anything lower than that, and the raw books were all of comparably high quality.)  Individually, these books might not stand out, but I'm hoping that anyone seeing a bulk of these books turning up in condition that high might take note, so I'm circulating this list.
Thanks for your support!
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-001.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-002.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-003.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-004.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-005.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-006.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-007.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-008.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-009.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-010.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-011.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-012.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-013.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-014.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-015.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-016.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-017.jpg

comic book storage (la) - 2015-converted-page-018.jpg

I was at a shop on Monday and I heard a phone call about this stolen collection. I passed on the info to another shop I was at the same day also

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/11/2021 at 10:32 AM, shadroch said:

I've used about a half dozen storage units since I moved west( I have two 22 foot containers right now) and no employee has ever had access to my units. I have my own locks, not purchased from the places, and there is no  way anyone else can access them. 

I had a unit in New Mexico and it was robbed.  Police told me criminals were coming through, pulling numbers off the locks then coming back later with keys they could obtain for the locks.  The cop told us Master locks were the most popular ones for them to get keys for.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, batman_fan said:

I had a unit in New Mexico and it was robbed.  Police told me criminals were coming through, pulling numbers off the locks then coming back later with keys they could obtain for the locks.  The cop told us Master locks were the most popular ones for them to get keys for.

Don't buy locks from companies that have "commerical" locks

A 1-C39 key will open most commercial locks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/11/2021 at 10:32 AM, shadroch said:

I have my own locks, not purchased from the places, and there is no  way anyone else can access them. 

Bolt cutter.  Battery powered chop saw. Battery powered drill. Guy in the next unit cuts through the wall, etc.

My storage unit was robbed because the alcoholic son of the owner who was supposed to be a night guard let the thieves in after hours.  No evil intent on his part, just incompetence. The thieves were customers who moved out of their unit and robbed several others on their way out.

The cop told me that storage units get robbed ALL THE TIME and that he would never keep anything of value in a storage unit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I posted a thread in WC about a woman and her apparent criminal activities and in some of her social media messages she was apparently working with employees of storage locker places who tipped her off what units and where to strike.  Do not store valuables in storage lockers is my advice folks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/13/2021 at 7:08 PM, kav said:

I posted a thread in WC about a woman and her apparent criminal activities and in some of her social media messages she was apparently working with employees of storage locker places who tipped her off what units and where to strike.  Do not store valuables in storage lockers is my advice folks.

Shoot, that's where I store all my kang comics

Edited by Wolverinex
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
1 1