Hans Riddervold, one of the owner's of AZL, has asked that I pass the word along. Hans had a suitcase stolen from his rent-a-car in Los Angeles. A number of AZL items were in the suitcase including a number of unreleased products. The list of stolen items includes: GP30s: 2 x SP (with black fuel tanks) 1 x SSW 1 x UP 1 x DRGW 2 x WC 2 x NYC 2 x GN Bay Window Cabooses: CSX WC Milwaukee NS UP RI Autoracks (6 units) Quite a few (probably 6 singles) 1x Illinois Central SD70M Please keep an eye on auction sites for these items. Also, for our train friends in LA, watch for individuals trying to sell these trains. Again, they should be easy to spot since most have never been released and are basically one-of-a-kind products at the moment. Thank you for your help! Rob Kluz
I sorry for terible news. I hope you is able to get the briefcase with trains back. The crook were probably expecting money or computer in suitcase and when saw the AZL trains thought they were not worth anything. I cross fingers for you and hope you will get back.
Now you know how hard it is for me to get prototypes back from Hans. I have to fly to LA, hack into the hertz system to find his rental car, stake out the airport parking lot, and wait for him to go get a latte before I can pick the lock and get the samples back.Whew! But all in a days work here at AZL...But don't worry, I've mailed his underwear back to him by way of China, so there will likely be a 3 to 6 month production delay before he sees it again.;-)
Damn hope the crooks will be caught. If you can post pictures of the models esp the unreleased ones we will have a better chance of identifying it... Kim
Rob,Can't imagine how bad Hans must be feeling about now. Could you share what part of Los Angeles this happened? I doubt the thieves would go to a hobby store to sell, but checking local pawn shops might be a better choice.James
Except for the prototype SD70, everything else is replaceable. It happened just below the Griffith Park Observatory where my sister in law lives. Someone marked the car earlier in the day and a crew broke in using an electronic device to open it. Also lost was a 3 months supply of Kona coffee.
No but really thats horrible, what kind of person wouldn't return it after knowing it was nothing of value to him. I'f I stole a breafcase and saw there was no money or jewls in it I would return it to a police station and say I found it. Thats messed up. I'll def keep an eye out for the rare protos.
Wow, that would never enter my mind to think "if I stole...", whatever Sorry Hans, this has to be difficult for you. Hope you get your stuff back and justice is served...
Hmm, I live very close to that area (Los Feliz). That's a nice part of town too (Which makes it a target for thefts). I can see the observatory from my front lawn. They probably thought it was something else...Will look out for sure. Maybe check Craigslist too.
The stuff will probably turn up, as it's stuff you can't easily sell without being recognized, but catching the thief is the hard part. I like baseball bat justice myself!
Yes Robert, the bat technique is quite effective, however I find it much more amusing and entertaining if you just nail one foot down and put gas on the other foot and light it and then watch the guy get wound up... )
A thing I'm concerned about is, after jimmying the lock on the suitcase and finding "only toy trains" and nothing of value, it would just get chucked in the nearest dumpster, never to be seen again.
That came out so wrong, i didn't mean it like that. I would never steal anything IDK why I said that. I just miss worded it. I hope you find it. I was really looking forward to the new AZL trains Hans did you contact the authroities? if its an internal job call the rent a car company and speak with the boss and inform them it was an inside job. They def thought there was money or something of great value in the case. I don't think they would be as stupid as to put them on ebay. Atleast not for a year or so when it dies down. I'm going to get to work with my Detective skills for you. I'll try to get it back for you and catch these obnoxious crooks!!!!! Not fair hans not fair at all brother.
It's probably in a dumpster or swimming or someone could have mutilated the case just for sport, like the kid in toy story...