Sword collection - Stolen.

cannonmn · 23rd December 2011, 11:58 AM

Thanks for posting this. I think either the site linked isn't used to posting thefts or else the standards for such are different from here in the US. Here, the media attempt to get in as many details of the theft as they can get from the police, the location, organization of person from whom stolen, time of day if known, details of how thief accessed the items, etc. The details increase reader interest and may occasionally cause someone in the neighborhood to recall something which will be important to solving the crime. The owner or police also often offer a reward for information leading to recovery or arrest, and believe me this helps in these hard times. A mere $1000. reward offer was responsible for the recovery of a valuable Spanish bronze cannon worth perhaps 20 times that, stolen in Detroit, MI area recently, from a friend of mine. The cannon was recovered undamaged after being missing for only a few weeks, with no damage

Atlantia · 23rd December 2011, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cannonmn

Thanks for posting this. I think either the site linked isn't used to posting thefts or else the standards for such are different from here in the US. Here, the media attempt to get in as many details of the theft as they can get from the police, the location, organization of person from whom stolen, time of day if known, details of how thief accessed the items, etc. The details increase reader interest and may occasionally cause someone in the neighborhood to recall something which will be important to solving the crime. The owner or police also often offer a reward for information leading to recovery or arrest, and believe me this helps in these hard times. A mere $1000. reward offer was responsible for the recovery of a valuable Spanish bronze cannon worth perhaps 20 times that, stolen in Detroit, MI area recently, from a friend of mine. The cannon was recovered undamaged after being missing for only a few weeks, with no damage

Hi Cannon.

I know details of the theft itself and owner are sparse, but at least the list of stolen items is reasonably detailed.
As these swords serial numbers are recorded there should be a good chance that they will be noticed when the thief tries to sell them.

The number given is for:
The Hammersmith and Fulham Burglary Squad based at Hammersmith Police Station. Office. 02082462655

cannonmn · 23rd December 2011, 01:44 PM

Thanks, it was not clear to me (I'm not a sword collector) what the numbers were, you say serial numbers, I was thinking they were museum catalog numbers perhaps put on with white ink, that's how little I know. The serial no. will be rolled or stamped into the metal which is good. You are correct that the important info is the details of the stolen items, frequently missing from the usual media theft report.

I just reposted the info with link on three collector forums and two email lists here in the US as the thief will likely have to go outside UK to sell the hot items.

Atlantia · 23rd December 2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cannonmn

Thanks, it was not clear to me (I'm not a sword collector) what the numbers were, you say serial numbers, I was thinking they were museum catalog numbers perhaps put on with white ink, that's how little I know. The serial no. will be rolled or stamped into the metal which is good. You are correct that the important info is the details of the stolen items, frequently missing from the usual media theft report.

I just reposted the info with link on three collector forums and two email lists here in the US as the thief will likely have to go outside UK to sell the hot items.

Hi Cannon,

I assume the numbers are the spine numbers and the collector seems to have researched each one and assigned it to it's original owner.
These spine numbers are deeply stamped into the spine up near the guard. There would be no easy way to grind them out or fill them short of careful electric welding, repolishing/renumbering them over the top. I would think that these numbers will prove too difficult to remove and be the best hope of recovery.

What an amazing collection. I'd be heartbroken to have lost it if it were mine.
Well done for spreading the word. The more people aware the greater the chance of recovery.

Best
Gene

spiral · 30th August 2012, 08:58 PM

Fascinating stuff this!

Any of the collectors here heard of any of these stolen pieces yet? Or have they disapeered into a "secret" collection somewhere? Because someone could get them cheaper than legal pieces?

As they say in Devon "Bargain"

Lots more swords stolen worlwide lately, A Japanese shop just lost yen 15,000,000 worth of katana. Loads of recent thieving in England & California to.

linky 1

for example

Who buys all these stolen swords? Do they ever show them to anyone else? What happens to them? Dont reckon there weighed in for scrap, they must end up with knowledgable collecters eventualy...

I wonder if it adds to the pleasure of owning them or dimineshes it?

Spiral

Atlantia · 31st August 2012, 08:15 AM

Hi J,

I don't know. I guess with the top list in this thread it's going to be pretty difficult for them to be broken up and sold separately as they are all individually recorded.
They should start to be picked up as they trickle onto the market. As long as the serial numbers etc aren't removed

If you google any of the names and numbers it should bring up one of the sites showing the list of stolen swords.

As for the ones in your link, well that's definately going to be more problematic.
It's a worry on several levels for sure.

23rd December 2011, 11:58 AM	#1
cannonmn Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 161	Thanks, will re-post elsewhere Thanks for posting this. I think either the site linked isn't used to posting thefts or else the standards for such are different from here in the US. Here, the media attempt to get in as many details of the theft as they can get from the police, the location, organization of person from whom stolen, time of day if known, details of how thief accessed the items, etc. The details increase reader interest and may occasionally cause someone in the neighborhood to recall something which will be important to solving the crime. The owner or police also often offer a reward for information leading to recovery or arrest, and believe me this helps in these hard times. A mere $1000. reward offer was responsible for the recovery of a valuable Spanish bronze cannon worth perhaps 20 times that, stolen in Detroit, MI area recently, from a friend of mine. The cannon was recovered undamaged after being missing for only a few weeks, with no damage

23rd December 2011, 01:44 PM	#3
cannonmn Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 161	Thanks, it was not clear to me (I'm not a sword collector) what the numbers were, you say serial numbers, I was thinking they were museum catalog numbers perhaps put on with white ink, that's how little I know. The serial no. will be rolled or stamped into the metal which is good. You are correct that the important info is the details of the stolen items, frequently missing from the usual media theft report. I just reposted the info with link on three collector forums and two email lists here in the US as the thief will likely have to go outside UK to sell the hot items.

30th August 2012, 08:58 PM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Fascinating stuff this! Any of the collectors here heard of any of these stolen pieces yet? Or have they disapeered into a "secret" collection somewhere? Because someone could get them cheaper than legal pieces? As they say in Devon "Bargain" Lots more swords stolen worlwide lately, A Japanese shop just lost yen 15,000,000 worth of katana. Loads of recent thieving in England & California to. linky 1 for example Who buys all these stolen swords? Do they ever show them to anyone else? What happens to them? Dont reckon there weighed in for scrap, they must end up with knowledgable collecters eventualy... I wonder if it adds to the pleasure of owning them or dimineshes it? Spiral

31st August 2012, 08:15 AM	#6
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi J, I don't know. I guess with the top list in this thread it's going to be pretty difficult for them to be broken up and sold separately as they are all individually recorded. They should start to be picked up as they trickle onto the market. As long as the serial numbers etc aren't removed If you google any of the names and numbers it should bring up one of the sites showing the list of stolen swords. As for the ones in your link, well that's definately going to be more problematic. It's a worry on several levels for sure.