Sad events. Must confess, the potential of theft or damage caused by inappropriate touching by viewers, has kept my collection out of the public eye. Yes, unfortunately these thefts were probably by non-hobbyist moxes just stumbling on a theft opportunity.
Maybe...Maybe not.
One time, about 8 years ago, I was talking to a guy who went to a lot of 2 rail shows as a vendor. He sold stuff but mainly did custom work for people. He told me that one time a brass hopper was stolen right off his table. I asked him, "Why would someone do that?" And he said, "I think it's the brass. It makes these guys go crazy." I guess he was alluding to how gold has a history of making men do crazy things and that brass in this hobby is similar. I don't know what the reason was but I am sure that this particular thief wasn't a non-hobbyist as non-hobbyists do not show up to 2 rail shows.
I think it's possible that it could have been a non-hobbyist in the theft at the Denver Club and at the March meet but if it wasn't what reasons could a hobbyist have for perpetrating such a crime? I can only think of two but I am sure there must be some more: #1) the person is a kleptomaniac and can't help themselves or #2) they are so enamored or hooked on this hobby that they want the trains so badly but don't have the funds to pay for them so they steal them. This would explain how the trains never surfaced because the thief kept them for themselves. If they really were dumb criminals you would think that somewhere down the line they would try to fence the trains and get caught. I would think a brass Big Boy without a tender would raise a few flags, but I am not a criminal psychologist so I am just guessing here. Tell you one thing I sure would like to find out exactly what happened and why.
Look at those train store robberies in PA. You know those crooks knew what they were taking and what the trains were worth. They didn't just happen to walk by a locomotive in a car so they must be into the hobby on some level.
I really feel bad for the folks who have had their items stolen. It is definitely a terrible feeling. I sincerely hope that someday you get your trains back. You never know, I read a story once where a guy who had Corvette stolen in the early '70s got it back 30 years later.
