*alert* SEVEN DISPLAY DOLLS MISSING FROM NY DOLPA

This is really, really horrible. It makes me want to cry thinking that someone would just steal a bunch of really expensive dolls like that. I just really hope that the thief will be found.

 

I am posting this again here as i thought my previous post might get buried and would like some clarification on what warrants such a large announcement when other buyers/sellers that have experienced theft do not get equal exposure.

This is not good and i hope that the dolls are found soon and those that stole them will be caught. What an awful thing to happen.

I wish everyone involved well but can't help but wonder why the theft of these dolls warrants such a huge headline on DoA when other instances of theft through deception, either by individuals or companies, in the marketplace do not.

Please don't get me wrong i am not questioning or condoning what has happened but there has been a lot of dodgy sellers/buyers here on DoA and none of them seemed to warrant a similar large announcement.

I just wanted to speak my mind and in no way do i condone or support what has happened.

It would be nice if all instances of theft were given equal importance here at DoA.

Big hugs to all concerned, you must all feel awful

 

Good question, Mamehisa. I remember when other dolls were stolen during other conventions and I don't think they were ever found either, but they didn't get a headline like this one did. Maybe because it is a company and there were so many taken? I don't really know or claim to know however.

 

I'm sorry you feel that DoA is being "partial" to Volks and this HUGE theft. Seven one-offs being stolen from a Dolpa is a very large theft and is a horrendous and terrible blow to the Volks company as well as to the dollery in general, in my opinion. Scam artists, friends of friends who steal from someone's bedroom, Ebay bad sellers, etc., are all problems and we do feel that we deal with those situations in a timely and responsible fashion insofar as we are legally capable. Someone bold enough to steal seven one-offs under the very noses of the Shigetas during a public event is another situation entirely. The Volks company was not "scammed" they were targeted and dolls that clearly have a HUGE monetary value were selectively chosen.

Are you aware that Mr. Shigeta has said that if the dolls ARE recovered they will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation?

This thread isn't really the place for this sort of dramatic questioning of DoA's decision to highlight the theft at Dolpa.

 

From what someone who was there said that Mr. Shigeta said that if the dolls are found they will be given to Make A Wish.

Not that they were going there in the first place. Volks uses the dolls in different stores for their displays.

The Make a Wish donation came up AFTER they were stolen.

 

I have to agree with this as there are so many people who are repeat scammers.

This is a big thing that happened now but its just like people who trick someone into sending them their expensive doll and steal it from them and others; repeated offenders should warrant announcements as well to avoid it happening once more.

As for this case, I think the reason why it draws so much attention was because of all the circumstances. This is an outright out in the open theft. When it comes to transactions resulting down to a theft its not quite as out there for people to be able to focus on it so much. Hm guess I kind of contradicted myself.

 

This is so sad. I hope they are found.

 

I'm thinking the reason for the headline is because 7 dolls are missing, 7 priceless dolls. The amount of money taken here is massive and im yet to have seen another doll theft/missing doll situation that can rival the amount here. Thats why i think the headline is so improtant anyway.

On another note Ive had this thread posted up on angel_unlimited.

 

I can't believe this has happened! =_= I will keep my eye open when I browse for dolly stuff.

I hope the person/persons responsible will be caught soon!

ps: I think Volks deserves the extra support from BJD fans since they introduced the dolls to us. Without them the resin BJD community would probably not have even existed!

 

Thank you everyone for clearing that up.

 

so sad D: ;-;

 

I'm sure if we keep an eye out on all the assorted selling sites: ebay, Esty, craig's list, Amazon, flickr, Yahoo Japan (and maybe contacting Celga about this even to make sure they know so they aren't reselling them for someone else), Yahoo Singapore, the Korean groups, and just everywhere we can think of... we can really reach out to block a lot of the "usual suspects."

Also, I'm sure the local doll shops and doll shows, most of the Tri-Star Angels go to those shows. I'm sure they will look for the dolls there. Keeping active eyes in Antique malls/stores, pawn shops, and other quick sell places might be a good idea. I'm thinking keeping watch in all the surrounding states even.

Whether or not it was an organized hit or not, we need to just keep our eyes and ears open. Try to stay focused and make an effort. if they are gone then at least we all tried to find them and did our best. What more could Volks and the Shigeta's ask for?

 

You know how some people like to brag about thefts and what not? What if, the person possibly posts a video on youtube of the dolls or another video website? I don't think it'd be too far out to think of that, because kids posts fights on youtube! So why not post some stolen dolls? They may not show up right away, but eventually, who knows?

 

Regarding the importance of announcing this, Mr. Shigeta himself told me it cost them a lot of money to put on these events outside of Japan, way more than you would think. They pay to fly their employees over, which is not cheap these days. Plus hotel and food. They lose money each time but do it because they want to thank us for buying their dolls and being fans.

We have to remember they give out dolls and other items at each event. The door prizes cost money also. Yes the last couple events did have a fee, but it is way under what most conventions charge and you do get a meal with it.

The Shigetas have been very generous to many people. When they opened their store here in the US they invited us all into their home. Yes, that was their home in the US. And they did not charge us for any of those parties.

It is never easy when someone has something stolen. But this is a rather large theft and it also may influence what happens in the future with doll events here in the US. So it is important to get the right information out there and to let people know what happened.

 

I was thinking. Could the person just be keeping the dolls for her self. Like you hear about theses art thefts and how some private collectors keep their art locked in a vault for their own private viewing. Could it be the same motive in this case?

 

For what is worth, I don't think that the thief was targeting Volks at all. He/she had one thing in mind, the money or his private collection.

Of course if he tries to resell the dolls and supposing he is not a total idiot (because I don't believe in idiotic people), he will have to drastically change their appearence and of course lose a great deal of money, since the dolls won't be able to sell as one offs any more. I also believe that if someone tries to sell these dolls, greatly altered, it would be done after a long long time, when this matter has been forgotten.

If he only wants them for his private collection, then kiss the dolls bye bye. As I said, I don't believe in idiotic people and I am sure that he won't be showing them off anywhere.

You might disagree with me, but I really cannot accept the fact, that someone who got the idea to steal these dolls is so stupid as to reveal himself or so ignorant.

 

I agree with this 100% percent.

Holding Dolpa outside of Japan is not a money-making activities for Volks. The amount of man power and money that go into each event is so much more than what they collect from the actual event. Last year, they made me a fan and a believer.

I am really sorry that this had happened and casted a shadow over an otherwise happy event. I really hope that this will not discourage Volks from holding another event in US. I hope to attend the one in November.

 

*points up* Which was a point I made above.

 

An addition to this thread because I don't seem to see this information posted - though please take it as something I have heard from Volks staff, but NOT OFFICIAL INFO.

This morning when the Dolpa staff arrived, the Dolpa room was in use *unexpectedly* by another group and the Volks items had been moved. I left early in the afternoon and there was some question at that point that there was a *possibility* the dolls were among the boxes somewhere - since they had a lot of stuff with them and things were no longer where they had been left. (Mikey said something about going through the boxes in her announcement as well.)

But I wanted to add that it seems like a strong possibility that the dolls were taken, if they were taken, not during the night but in the morning - when the items were moved by whomever they were moved by. Crime of opportunity if there was one, it would seem.

I was the fourth person to arrive @FIT this morning who was NOT Dolpa staff and none of us even knew about this until the announcement was made - it seems to me that it's pretty unlikely that a BJD person was responsible for the theft, because they would not have known there was even an opportunity. For all any of us knew, as the staff thought as well, the dolls were all locked up overnight. Just a note.

I won't add my feelings about the theft to this thread, I'm sure everyone feels the same way.