JOB's bad news via Facebook...

I hope you don't mind me sharing your bad news here James, but the more model collectors that see this the better...
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I have a collection of 1/43 model rally cars, some of which were displayed at the vintage show at Easter in Millstreet. They were stored in my office in Kanturk Co Cork. The office was broken into last week and some of them stolen. Also taken were old matchbox cars and other related items which have little or no monetary value but are of sentimental value to me. Whoever took them did not know what they were at as they took cheaper models while leaving some very valuable ones. These will come up for sale as kids cant play with the models and won't play with 40 odd year old matchbox cars. If anyone comes across them or is offered them or spots something like them at a car boot sale could they please take a photo and send me a message. Thanks.
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If members could keep an eye out around the shows, more so in Ireland of course, then there just might be a chance of the thieving scumbags being caught, and the stock returned to their rightful owner. Good luck James.

Cant have nothing nice these days without some scum theiving it.

My dad is often at the Car Boot sale in kilkenny so ill tell him to keep an eye out for any models

sorry to hear that james, hopefully they'll turn up somewhere and be returned to you.....

That is really awful. I can't imagine how gutted you must be James. Really sucks!

It's my worst nightmare to either come home and find the house broken into and cars missing or damaged or to find my nieces were down and opened up the cabinet and pulled out a few cars "to play with". Hope you get some leads as to where they may be. If you have a list of whats missing maybe you could post it up and we can have an idea what to look out for

terrible news james!!
ive shared it on fb for you.

Thanks folks. Nothing else worth stealing for a quick buck from the office. Unfortunately my stocklist is out of date. Not sure of full list but all rally cars F2 Escort maxi (Alonso ?), Mercs 280 SE , Preproduction Meeke DS3 (case with no marlings), 3 set corgi monte cars, vanguards incl triumph pi2500, austin 1800, rosemary smith imp are all I can see at first glance. My habit started young so i had 40/50 assorted old matchbox and corgis plus sundry other old models. Also 1/18 Mitsubishi Wrc. It will be a while before I have a better list. Heading to Eifel tomorrow then back to Stonethrowers and Neath ,,,,,

Sorry to hear of this. It's sh1t when that happens and just plain unfair. Hopefully they'll turn up.....

Lesson is to have an up to date stocklist and if possible photos and if limited additions keep the model number. A secret mark with one of those "invisible" markers on the base of each model would also be a good idea. It is extremely frustrating not knowing exactly is gone - I have a horrible suspicion that there is also a Borders Fine Art tractor gone.

When it rains it pours - just had an email from Janos to say he has got confirmation that the post have lost the daihatsu charade, eifel porsche and Keith Cronin Subaru he sent me a month ago. At least he is covered by insurance and has started on doing them all over again.

On the bright side its a case of Eifel here we come so I will be "off air" until Sunday night.
Enjoy the rain.

Hi James,

Sorry to hear about your rubbish news. That's awful. I guess that some of those you have identified can be replaced fairly easily, but others won't be of course and that's a real gut-wrencher!

Having been burgled at home twice, within 9 months, I know what it feels like. Disbelief and anger being two that happened for me. Lots of people spoke about being defiled by having people wandering around the house uninvited, but I didn't feel that at all.  

Still, looking at it positively, the second time around they didn't steal anything sentimental - that went the first time!  

Have a great break and (try to) enjoy yourself. Cheers, Steve

Sorry to hear this James. Will keep a close eye on the ebay market just incase.

Bar stewards. Hope they turn up James

Gutted James, hope you can find the scum that done this

Bad news indeed, James.  Hope you have some good luck in recovering the collection.

No consolation to your misfortune, but the trip to Eifel must've cheered yo up a bit.

I'm sure he had a good time, no news of the models though. I met James and his daughter on Friday, and stood next to their neighbour Pat on one of the Saturday stages. He reckoned I really should travel over to watch some Irish rallying.

Anyone know the dates for the 2014 Rally of the Lakes?

Juha wrote:I'm sure he had a good time, no news of the models though. I met James and his daughter on Friday, and stood next to their neighbour Pat on one of the Saturday stages. He reckoned I really should travel over to watch some Irish rallying.

Anyone know the dates for the 2014 Rally of the Lakes?

May bank holiday weekend - usually the first weekend in May. Do what we did for Eifel - Frankfurt Hahn to Kerry.

On the darker subject of stolen models there is no news. I firmly believe they will be dumped or appear in a car boot sale. Yes I am upset/angry etc but those of you who know me will be aware that we have been through far worse and we just pick ourselves up dust ourselves down and carry on. I got some more autographs for my book and got both the Group 4 and Group B books and had them signed by Reinhard Klein, John Davenport, Walter Rohrl, Bjorn Waldegard,Stiq Blomquist,Simo Lampinen and Piero Sodano.

I got two Pond Lotus Sunbeams with a view to getting some HFH cars done. However I see John Leahy on facebook looking for one for Russel Brookes so if there are others out there interested I will start a separate thread and see what happens.

I saw the two Rothmans Audis on sale in Eifel but kept my hands in my pockets as I have them on order from Andy. Pretty good selection of models on sale there as well as books, photos and calendars .

Well I wasn't planning to drive over there.

An Irish photographer has already offered to drive me around if needed. Must say you're a very helpful crowd!

Either the same illegitimate son of an unmarried mother came back or some other cretin of similar parentage paid my office another visit. The only satisfaction I have is that I left a number of the empty cardboard boxes in the storeroom when reboxing all the models into sealed plastic containers so they left emptyhanded. It does raise the question as to why it was worth their while coming back ?

The must have been able to sell the last ones they stole and came back looking for more. You cant have nothing nice these days. Did you ever find out exactly what they got the last time James?

brian wrote:The must have been able to sell the last ones they stole and came back looking for more. You cant have nothing nice these days. Did you ever find out exactly what they got the last time James?

I think I was born with my affliction for collecting so what I know for definite is that they got old matchbox models I played with as a child, as well as some nicer larger scale older dinky models. As for the rally collection I reboxed everything so quickly that the system I had was thrown into disarray. Models had been boxed in cardboard boxes of various sizes and each box numbered so I knew where everything was. The system broke down a little when Donie and myself had the few displays last year and when I then reboxed evrything into the plastic containers I lost all track of what was where. A big job awaits me over the next few weeks to put some shape back on whats there and by default whats missing.

Ah mate, thats crap. Feel for you.

Assholes pure & simple. Hope they get caught

Hi James,

You have my symapthies. I know it doesn't help much, but I do know what it's like to be burgled (at home, twice within 9 months!)!   It mad eme wonder whether having anything of value or interest was worthwhile!

I ended up having a sophisticated alarm system installed and still blanch every time the insurance comes up for renewal - the premiums are painful!  

Cheers, Steve

Not good news James. Sorry to here this. I would say if it was dinky and matchbox they took last time, thats what they came back for. The old stuff is making good money these days. I would remove the lot to a safer place.

james, just wanted to add my sympathies to those voiced above........... sorry m8!