stolen gear from mix masters

[Kurt]

Here in Canberra they have to keep them on record, but I don't think they send them to the police for approval. The cops will go there and check records if they suspect something (usually 'coz the person that's been done over reports that their stolen property has been seen in a shop)

hmmm...... don't pawn shops have to send serial numbers of things to the police before they sell them anyway? or is that just a NSW thing?

[HA_DA_JA]

Its law to keep a register and it gets downloaded to the Police either daily or weekly.
That's why serial numbers are so important as these are on the records that are sent to the police. Also any personalised engravings E.G. Drivers License or company logos and stock numbers are also recorded if they are engraved on the merchandise.
Let this be another reminder that all of you should keep your own registry of gear and serial numbers. IF something gets stolen and you report it along with the serial number - somewhere down the track it will come through the system if it finds its way to one of these stores.
Every 6 months troddle on down to the cop shop and ask them to do a serial number check on their system to see if your gear comes up. Unfortunately I dont think it links with other states as of yet.
Record your serial numbers. (insert Arnies voice) DO IT. DO IT NOW!!

[Simon B]

I am suprised there is no mention of asking to pick it up........

I would have driven to the location myself to pick it up.......

well me and some mates.......

Bloody thieves...... may they all have a nasty accident with a door

[NYMo]

Hi there,

I think the cops are the only ones allowed to approach the business.
(idf thats what you're saying Simon B)

Cheers
N
Y
M
O

[Chris H]

Hi there,

I think the cops are the only ones allowed to approach the business.
(idf thats what you're saying Simon B)

Cheers
N
Y
M
O

A few years ago we had some Lorantz mid hi boxes stolen along with some lighting. It turned up a few weeks later at a Frankston pawn shop being sold as stage monitor wedges. Spoke to the owner and he said he wouldn't sell them untill we spoke to police etc to confirm they were stolen goods etc.

[heathen]

It's good that most thieves are stupid, if the cops are keen to make a bust then there's a good chance of catching someone over this.

Well done guys for noticing these.

[tactics]

Hi all, Jon from Mixmasters here.. thought i would update & thank everyone who helped on the whole breakin situation etc.

We have so far retrieved 4 of the 7 Toft consoles that were stolen. We got one back yesterday morning after an email from a Turtlerock forum member who noticed it on Cash Converters website. Thanks for that email. It was at a Cash Converters store about 5 mins from here.

The Ezy cash loans/ebay console was retrieved the next day by police & someone was nabbed for it, went to court etc. Thanks to John & Dale for the heads up, much appreciated.
Another console was recovered after a tip from a local guy who spotted one in a Cash Converters in the northern suburbs.
The fourth was recovered by police from another Cash Converters store locally.

This sort of thing can really leave a dent in you after it happens & left everyone here feeling pretty low.
Thanks to all the forum members here who sent their best wishes etc.

Cheers..on behalf of all here at Mixmasters.

[HA_DA_JA]

Are you any closer to nabbing the people who actually orchestrated the theft?

[tactics]

Are you any closer to nabbing the people who actually orchestrated the theft?

At the time the cops pretty much knew who was behind it. But getting enough evidence to actually
convict someone is another story.

[Mickstape]

Ok so where does this shitbag live? Who needs a conviction man, I'll remove limbs and digits for free, well I would consider doing it for a nice compressor, got any distressors lying round? I am deadly serious.

[a.beck]

Dude.

[heathen]

Good to see something coming of it and some gear coming back, good work guys.

Even when deadly serious smileys are a good idea. :) :) I learnt that the hard way. :( :(


:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[rob]

Mickstape, keep in mind that the guys that stole this stuff from Mixmasters are just a bunch of junkie / crooks, not wannabe recording engineers.
This of course doesn't make their behaviour any less unacceptable, but not worth your call to arms. If fact any attempt such as you propose would probably just result in you getting a knife stuck in your guts. Let it go.

[prequalizer]

So what happens to the pawn shop, do they loose money for buying it off the thieves?

What happens to the gear retrieved, is that sold off as still new, ex-demo, used, etc by the store?

Do you think it would be fair to a buyer if gear was retrieved and sold off as if it was new, if the gear had been used even slightly by potential thieves or new owners that had to give it back?

[musikwerks]

Do you really think a junkie is going to plug it in and fire it up?

They stole it purely for cash to buy their next fix.

[prequalizer]

Do you really think a junkie is going to plug it in and fire it up?

They stole it purely for cash to buy their next fix.

Someone has to plug it in, to check if it's working?

[musikwerks]

Then it's no different to being powered up in the showroom.

New.

[prequalizer]

Then it's no different to being powered up in the showroom.

New.

Powered up in the showrooms are Demos, or floor demos. Once it is powered up at the store, it's not new anymore.

[NYMo]

Hi there,

I spent nearly 20 years selling new MI gear *off the floor *.

Demo gear was stuff that had been loaned to people for evaluation in
their own studio or home.

(Just to clarify the terms :)

cheers
N
Y
M
O

[HA_DA_JA]

The pawn shop loses its money. Thats why they dont pay much for the stuff.
They then seek damages from the guilty party at the court hearing but the likely hood of getting paid by them is about 5%. Who heard of a druggie paying for something they stole?
It then goes on there official record as a debt outstanding and it makes it harder for them to get credit from a bank or anyplace.
They get banned (by the owner) from doing business from there pawn store so they have shot themselves in the foot. Because they usually get off lightly form the judge over a stealing case they are back on the streets.
They now have no source of quick money and things get downhill from there. Talk about a bad lifesytle they had before they were busted now it s just living out a hell. Sometimes jail is a much safer nicer place where at least you get feed and some freedom like electricity tv ect.
This is a growing problem in our society.

[musikwerks]

Then it's no different to being powered up in the showroom.

New.

Powered up in the showrooms are Demos, or floor demos. Once it is powered up at the store, it's not new anymore.

Does it even matter? Or are you that tight you would haggle over the price of gear because it was stolen and not "new"? Geez man, just be happy MM are getting their gear back.

[Mickstape]

Good to see something coming of it and some gear coming back, good work guys.

Even when deadly serious smileys are a good idea. :) :) I learnt that the hard way. :( :(


:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

woops.

I'm also available for childrens parties, jewish weddings and hens nights. :) :) :-0

[prequalizer]

Then it's no different to being powered up in the showroom.

New.

Powered up in the showrooms are Demos, or floor demos. Once it is powered up at the store, it's not new anymore.

Does it even matter? Or are you that tight you would haggle over the price of gear because it was stolen and not "new"? Geez man, just be happy MM are getting their gear back.

Yes of course. Why shouldn't I? If I am paying top dollar for something, I expect it to be what it is. Some people save years, to buy something new, so they should expect it. That doesn't give a store an excuse to sell something as "new" if it isn't. MM should be happy they got their gear back, so it's good karma to be honest to their potential buyers as well.

I remember I paid close to 4 grand for a new eq, and when I opened, it, the plastic wrapper was gone, and some scratches on the unit. I was furious!!!

[Mickstape]

Then it's no different to being powered up in the showroom.

New.

Powered up in the showrooms are Demos, or floor demos. Once it is powered up at the store, it's not new anymore.

Does it even matter? Or are you that tight you would haggle over the price of gear because it was stolen and not "new"? Geez man, just be happy MM are getting their gear back.

Yes of course. Why shouldn't I? If I am paying top dollar for something, I expect it to be what it is. Some people save years, to buy something new, so they should expect it. That doesn't give a store an excuse to sell something as "new" if it isn't. MM should be happy they got their gear back, so it's good karma to be honest to their potential buyers as well.

I remember I paid close to 4 grand for a new eq, and when I opened, it, the plastic wrapper was gone, and some scratches on the unit. I was furious!!!

Not taking any sides here but if i paid 4k for something "brand new" ITB and it had scratches on it i'd be sending/taking it back and having some choice words to say about it. Some peoples business standards are farking terrible these days. And the offending party/ies would never EVER get my coin again.

[musikwerks]

Now I remember why I blocked you from my ebay auctions.

[wez]

on the other side of the coin.... how can we expect to get retailers to lend out high-end gear on trial to us if they then have to discount it heavily if we don't buy it? sure if it has obvious scratches, missing packaging or other signs of of use, then maybe it should be sold as ex-demo... but not too many stores are going to have a 'demo' vari-mu lying around for you to play with. i used to get a bit uptight about that sort of thing... but now i think, hey, after it's been in my studio for a couple weeks it will be 'used' anyway. and i'll be just as happy with it.

[prequalizer]

on the other side of the coin.... how can we expect to get retailers to lend out high-end gear on trial to us if they then have to discount it heavily if we don't buy it? sure if it has obvious scratches, missing packaging or other signs of of use, then maybe it should be sold as ex-demo... but not too many stores are going to have a 'demo' vari-mu lying around for you to play with. i used to get a bit uptight about that sort of thing... but now i think, hey, after it's been in my studio for a couple weeks it will be 'used' anyway. and i'll be just as happy with it.

I don't know, but it seems like gone are the days when stores would buy one unit to use as a demo or floor model and leave the new stuff in their store room to be sold off to buyers. I think if a buyer is buying something new, then sell him a new product. If a person wants to try a unit out and maybe buy, then I think it is up to the person to make that decision if they do not mind buying a unit that's been used as a try and buy model.

If I buy a unit, I do not return it unless there is something wrong with it, so I do not expect a store to sell me a used item because buying a new unit that someone else has tried out or used, is not NEW. This is just my opinion, I do not do what some of you guys do where you try and buy stuff, so I guess you do not mind that, but if I save up for a couple of years for a unit and done all my research for it, I do not want to spend money on a new item that is used, otherwise I will just buy a used unit which is usually in pretty good nick if you shop patiently.

[Ausrock]

So all those 100s or 1000s of instruments and all those amps, etc., in stores around the country that have been "trialed" by every man and their dog should not be sold as a new item???

[NYMo]

Hi there,

One thing I've learnt after working in MI for a long time
is ..buy used !
(ok...maybe not Macs !)

Everything loses nearly 40% as soon as you walk out the shop door !

cheers
N
Y
M
O

[no-fi]

I don't know, but it seems like gone are the days when stores would buy one unit to use as a demo or floor model and leave the new stuff in their store room to be sold off to buyers.

gee... I wonder why that is?


http://www.turtlerockmastering.com/foru ... php?t=3465

I would buy from the cheapest place thats established, even ebay or online should be considered. Most items that do become faulty has passed their warranty dates.

In my opinion, a good relationship with a music shop is when they give you very good prices all the time and for that, you buy from them all the time.

hmmm.... yeah.... perhaps this attitude is why?

Because if any shops DID bother to buy a store only demo unit, you'd come into the shop and run your greasy hands all over it and try it out, then go and ask them to compete with the price from someone on ebay who doesn't have the same kind of costs as the shop that you helped yourself to a demo from, right?

bottom line - you can't have everything both ways, and you already stated your preference for cheap versus anything else, so yeah.... enjoy the world you helped create...