Thought I should put a notice out to inform everyone of stolen pattern airplanes and equipment taken over the weekend while attending D1/D2 contest in St Mary's county in Maryland. ( Planes stolen were a Addiction and a Sickle. Both color schemes are the standard ARF schemes. Charging stations, support equipment and Futaba radios where also taken. Planes were powered with a Hi-max (Sickle) and the Addiction was powered by a Plenty 30-10. I realize we will probably not see the planes and equipment again but should anyone be approached by someone attempting to sell equipment that meets the above description please report the incident.

Larry Kauffman
D2 VP NSRCA

Sorry to hear this Larry!

Chris

Sorry to hear about this.

I had a similar experience but turned out my equipment was returned. I had not considered how great a loss I had until I began adding up for the insurance claim, my homeowners deductible is based upon a percentage of my home value and I would have only recovered 1/5 of the loss in my insurance claim.

I hope the equipment is recovered and the theives are found and punished.

I'm really hoping that the thieves are idiots and will assume that the stuff was associated with someone on base and not associated with the R/C club since they were staying at a hotel right outside the base. We'll see. I've notified other clubs and hobby shops as well as pawn shops. Now we'll just see if they are dumb enough to try to sell it locally. We had two guys in a truck pull up at the R/C club tonight that looked a little shady, but didn't stop and say anything...maybe we'll get lucky and they really are that dumb.

Arch

Sorry to hear about that Larry,I was myself a victim a few years ago. You might want to post a picture of the airplanes as it might help. I have one photo of the Sickle that I took at Victor's Diaz contest, If you like I can send it to you...

Here are photos of the planes.

Arch

I'm guessing Barrett and Dale were the victims?

Sad to hear!

You are correct Ryan. Charles Simmons had his stuff locked up in the trailer they were towing and it was all safe, the only broke into the truck.

Arch

The good news is they are! Seriously, even if they're "smart",they'll have to sell the stuff to make the theft "pay". My money says they don't even fly RC, let alone pattern.Alertinglocal pawn and hobby shops is a great idea. I recommend also keeping an eye on the on-line sale sites, like the RCU market place and evilbay. Ther's a chance they're clever enough to try and avoid selling too close to the scene of the crime.

I hope the planes and radios and equipmentare recovered. That's a significant financial loss.


Rob

Larry, Arch,

I also recommend sending out an e-mail to the NSRCA discussion list asking all to be on the look out for someone most likely outside the pattern community trying to sell these planes.  If the entire NSRCA membership is aware, we can catch these idiots since they'll likely try to sell the  planes to someone in the pattern community.


Rob

I really can't believe this and can only offer my sympathies.

Barrett, I've got a 30-10 sitting on a bench collecting dust so when you get a replacement airframe give me a shout and it's yours

Joe

Really sorry to hear about this. You may want to enquire whether AMA Insurance might be able to cover part of the loss in excess of any homeowners insurance because it was at an AMA sanctioned event.

Also watch craigslist.

Had it taken place at the field, then the AMA would have something to do with it. Since it was stolen from the hotel, regardless of the reason they were there, the AMA would have nothing to do with the insurance claim.

Arch

Might want to give it a try as in my case the AMA covered part of my loss. It was not much but it helped... The only thing was that I had to show them receipts of everything that was taken and as luck would have it I had them all...

Yeah, just make sure it's really an Addiction and a Sickle before you hop in your car and go for a drive.....

Seriously though, unless they intended using them privately, how on earth do thieves think they can turn that type of specialised equipment into cash? The resale on F3A stuff is bad at best.

Interesting. I will have Dale and Barrett check on that. My understanding was that since it didn't occur at the field they couldn't do anything about it, just like a car wreck or house fire, but I will definitely check,

Arch

Whats the worst they can say?

NO?

If you don't ask the answer is always NO.

Tim

This happened to me few years back and AMA paid me $900.00. However, the car was parked at the subdivision where i used to leave. Not sure about you situation but give it a try.

very sorry about what happened ! I know how it feels !

I believe as long as forced entry is shown the AMA will cover up to $1000 of the loss. won't buy a new pattern plane or transmitter but it will help. Sorry to hear about the loss. talk about hard to sell anonymously... unless they just stripped/disposed the planes and then used/sold the onboard equipment and radios. that stuff could go on ebay easily.

Larry, Thanks for starting this thread, and to all of you, Barrett and I both really appreciate the support from the pattern community.

The Sickle was flying absolutely fantastic before it was stolen. The planes always seem to fly the best right before something bad happens.

So far the insurance company's have been congenial, but we'll have to wait and see how friendly they are when they have to write the checks!
I'm just now getting around to making the full list of stolen items. AMA supplementary coverage should kick in as the drivers door lock was pried open to gain access... That'll be a separate claim on the vehicle.

While this is a big setback for both of us, we will still be out on the contest trail.

Dale

BTW: A big thanks to Chris Moon for loaning me his personal "company" airplane to fly F-11 on Sunday! I'm not sure who was more nervous, Chris or myself, when I started the first rolling circle after only 5 manoeuvres with his Jupiter!!!

To the OP:

I moderate both this forum and the Beginners forum. I posted a link in the Beginners forum to this thread. I thought the best exposure would be to get as many folks looking or thinking if someone should offer a plane for sale.

Best of luck trying to find the culprits. And, if you DO find them, I hope you prosecute them to the limit of the law!!

CGr.

Sorry to hear about the loss. Home owners/Renters or sometimes car insurance have coverages also. AMA coverage seems too low with current equipments even at lower price that years back.

If you can talk to the local club to contact TV station, have them show the pictures in the news.
I believe Vince's plane & equipments were stolen from his wagon a few years back, but recovered most of them with help of the club contacting TV station with pictures.

Model airplane's are not easy to fence. They may take the equipment out, trash the plane's. Check with your local trash hauler, dumpster's, etc.
Vince

This truly sucks, I am sorry to hear of this. Unfortunately, the crumbags that took this stuff likely will not even have a clue as to what it is, and their aim is to turn it into a bag of crack or meth. I really feel for you, and I hope and pray for justice to be done, what ever that ends up looking like.