[CPProt.net] Police recover comic book collection worth $140,000

[MSN and CPProt list (Ton Cremers)]

Police recover comic book collection worth $140,000 


Associated Press
Feb. 24, 2005 01:50 PM 

FLAGSTAFF - A man has recovered a comic book collection worth more than
$140,000 that had been taken from his home in a burglary.

The suspected burglars sold the collection, which included early issues of
the "Amazing Spider-Man," "Incredible Hulk," and the "Fantastic Four," to a
used book store for $600. Store staff eventually helped police identify two
suspects.

"Pretty much every red flag went up when these kids came in with these comic
books," said Gene Roberdeaux, manager at Bookman's Used Books, Music &
Software. "They didn't know what they had in their hands." 

The staff notified them of the value of the comic books, Roberdeaux said.
"They just wanted to get rid of them, which is another red flag," he said.

The store has no safeguards to prevent the purchase of stolen items like
comic books, Roberdeaux said. Comic books don't have serial numbers, and
there is no way to know if they're stolen - other than somebody reporting
them missing.

The comic books are now back in the owner's hands primarily because the
Flagstaff Police Department decided to make a call to Bookman's, and
Roberdeaux decided to keep the comics under lock and key, suspecting they
were stolen.

Bookman's is out the $600 it paid for the comics but Roberdeaux said the
store will qualify for restitution if there is a conviction in the case.

Detective Margaret Bentzen said one suspect agreed to turn himself in. The
18-year-old Flagstaff man has been indicted on charges of burglary and
trafficking in stolen property.

The second suspect is a juvenile who has already been sentenced to juvenile
prison on an unrelated matter, Bentzen said. 

http://www.azcentral.com/