*alert* SEVEN DISPLAY DOLLS MISSING FROM NY DOLPA

This is really frustrating. I've gotten precious things stolen from me before and knowing that our system actually have gaps to allow the thief to get away with it just makes my blood boils. >_< I'll apologize if I appear emotional about my response because I really am. I cannot deny it. I can only hope that karma gets back to the people who stole the dolls.

Also, I'll echo everyone here about security and question about the management and organization of the event...

From Julidc's response, it seems that the Volks staff were unaware of another event that took place prior to 7AM the following day. Shouldn't they have been informed ahead of time? Why did no one know about the event at 7AM? Why did the person in charge of this event not aware of the "breakfast group"? If Volks and the rest of the stafff knew that others would be using the room before them, then I dont think they would have left the dolls there. This smells fishy and I definitely agree that this has to be an inside job. Were the people present checked to see if they had the dolls as well? (No offense or anything, but if you're not guilty, then you shouldn't feel ashamed) Were the people with the keys checked to see if they had the dolls? ( Are the people the same ones who have been in charge of security these conventions in the past years? ) Were they even investigated? At this point, I think everyone can be a suspect, not just the attendees.

I think Volks' reaction is too passive. If it was me, I'd definitely demand justice. XD; But I think Volks would rather spare the thiefs because the money that'll go into investigating will be too much and too time consuming. Not to mention, this happened on international ground. If Volks were to investigate the situation, whose judicial system will handle the case? Japan or America?

At times like this were we (or just me? ) feel total helplessness, wouldn't it be better for the community to come together and do something about it to help the loss of Mr.Shigeta? Or should I continue to sit and bicker like an old woman....? D: Probably the latter... -_-

 

It's very nice of Mr. Shigeta not to press charges. I dunno if I would be that nice if someone stole my dolls. This is just horrible and...unthinkable. I can't believe the type of people that reside in this world. There's all types, and unfortunately that type is very common. I really hope they find those dolls.

 

I know this seems crazy, but not only should we keep an eye on online stores, but perhaps, places where they could be sold under the noses of the BJD community?

Car boot sales, charity shops perhaps? I presume the police will be keeping their eyes open for the lost dolls too.. and I hope the dolls return undamaged and safe.

I don't know much about dollpas, I have never been to one. But I hope this doesn't put Volks off holding one in the future.

 

Just a thought.

It seems that the "Breakfast Group" on Sunday morning threw everyone off and distracted from the missing dolls.

Anyway, I'm still sticking to the previous theory that it might be a private collector/attendee(s) who had the money to pay people to cart off the dolls in their boxes. Might have money to pay the security staff/cleaning staff of the building to do this.

This event has been talked about for a long time--it had exposure in here and in FDQ magazine so I think the person(s) who were responsible for the missing dolls had lots of time to plan this "doll heist."

And yet, you can just dismiss me as someone who watches way too much Law & Order Criminal intent!

 

I am well and truly sickened by this news. It's impossible to keep the tears at bay. However, in the aftermath of that disturbing debate on hypothetical ethics in acquiring a doll one didn't purchase, it does my heart good to see the outcry against this heinous act.

I can only believe, whoever was involved and however it happened, FIT would be hugely keen to do whatever it took to get to the bottom of this. As a purveyor of conference space (among other things), FIT can't afford a blemish of this magnitude.

What amazes me most, however, are the reactions of Mr Shigeta and the Volks staff. To be able to look for good in this is a true mark of character. To feel closer to this gathering of owners as a result of adversity is touching. To be able to focus concern on the welfare of the dolls rather their material value speaks to Volks's commitment to the relationships they help build.

Such a class act in the face of what has happened ... I am humbled.

 

Just to state before this spins out of control and people sort of start blaming Pat and FDQ about things - those people were NOT supposed to be in the room. There was NO other event planned there. I don't know whose oversight it was that there WERE people in there - but Pat was just as shocked and appalled as you might imagine, seeing other people in there.

She was beyond upset by what happened.

I hope they are found.

 

I think what people were saying was that Pat should have been told as well and that since she was not aware of them makes it even more suspicious that someone was keeping this from the Volks & event staff.
Maybe the security staff frequently has breakfast in that room since there was a kitchen behind the buffet set up? Maybe they didn't think of it as a big deal to be in the room early on a Sunday morning to prepare food and eat. Who knows. They shouldn't have had access, but they did. Either way, I am sure Pat has already spoken to FIT higher ups about this and I am sure she will do her best to find out what happened.

 

Well, I can tell you right now that I have had a similar experience. I was Chair of Registration for Shoujocon 2004, or was it 2003?, and the hotel had double booked our event with a car convention. To make this short, a girl was almost molested by one of the guys at the car convention and the hotel wouldn't call the police. We had to confine our attendees to one area to keep them safe.

Looks like FIT did something similar to me. Not telling Volks that they had double booked a room that they were also using. If at 7am they were having a breakfast, then at what time did the catering staff show up to set the room up for the breakfast? Perhaps, someone was "moving" the dolls out of the way and no one questioned this. FIT seems to be the ones that have most of the blame for this happening because of not notifying Volks about the morning event in the room and not having security enough to ensure that their merchandise would be secure.

 

I agreed and despite my bitterness, I do hope that something works out for the best.

 

Absolutely, nobody should have been allowed in there, and nobody told Pat or Volks or anything. Just saying, I'd hate to see FDQ even implicated in any way of being negligent - they weren't. FIT, maybe, but not FDQ.

There are lots of rumors I heard but they're just rumors, so it doesn't seem helpful to pass them along. I'm sure everyone is doing everything in their power to find them. I hope to God they do.

The whole thing is just too heartbreaking, and we all wish we could magically fix it all, right now.

 

I agree. Someone should've been informed, at least one person. However, that isn't the case. FIT has some explaining to do. I want to know their story on this.

 

Wouldn't we all. But we won't. It's very much out of our hands.

I'm sure Pat is exploring every avenue available and I'm sending her my good thoughts and hope for resolution.

 

Oh, word to the wordy McWord. However this other group got into this room, it is NOT Pat's/FDQ's fault. They didn't ok that. Someone at FIT dropped the ball. No one else should have had access to that room during the duration of the Volks/FDQ event, period.

 

This is no ones "fault" but the major jerks who stole the dolls. Blaming FDQ or even FIT doesn't really help. Precautions to prevent this sort of thing in future is the best that can be done now.

Being vigilant about watching ebay, yahoojapan ect will help. Perhaps even passing fliers to the local collectable shops that handle dolls and anime in the area so the thieves can't sell their ill gotten gain eaisily would help. Maybe offering some kind of reward for info that leads to the dolls return. Avoid news coverage as the last thing we need is more non doll people knowing how valuble our dolls are. Finding out how it happened helps only if the culprits can be caught.

But pointing fingers and casting aspersions helps no one. We are a relatively small and pretty tight knit community and that is what will hopefully make these dolls impossible to sell.

I can't support the theory of this being done by anyone in our community. They would be idiots as they will be caught eventually. They can't hope to sell them and if they keep them someone will eventually see them.

I just get the sense this was a case of greed and oppurtunity.
I hope that Karma bites them whoever they are in the butt!

 

MAJOR karma fanny biting.

 

I wasn't trying to blame Pat or FDQ or anything like that. I was just speculating on management because people have said enough about security. I didn't want to repeat the same concerns. I only questioned FDQ because they organized the event, so they have to be liable for the consequences, good or bad. But FIT held the event so they also have to be liable for the consequences too. From my speculations, I felt that both FIT and FDQ were unreliable. Thus everyone could be a suspect.

I do agree with wolfemeister that this is not a matter of who's at fault and who isn't tho. Ultimately what it comes down to is learning from this tragedy so we could prevent future ones.

 

It's absolutely terrible what the world is coming to. If only people would leave things that don't belong to them alone!
Theivery in other countries are generally unexpected; my mom told me that Denmark never had people break in and steal things when she lived there 18 years ago, and now she reads things on the internet of people getting stuff stolen all the time!
I know it's hard to expect others to respect things that don't belong to them, but I wish they would! The last day of school, someone stole my lunch box. A LUNCH BOX for goodness sake!

I hope the poor dolls get returned, I know I'd be devastated if my girl went missing or was stolen D=
This isn't even really like property stealing, it's kidnapping(well, to me at least)!

 

Somebody stole my stuffed 'Gizmo' mogwi right out of my luggage when I was little. That really hurt and I have remembered that feeling ever since. Silly I know.
I did look on Craigs list today and saw a collector in NYC advertising interest in all dolls of all types and offering upwards of $500 for good ones. You just never know. To some people even $500 is motivation enough to steal. If anyone is interested in keeping an eye on Craigs list too, it might take a few of us to monitor it seeing as there are loads of cities to check, but I am willing to search several cities new listings once a day for any sign of them. Anyone else wants to help, let me know.

 

That's so horrible to hear about. I hope they're recovered soon because they are just so beautiful and I know that they had a lot of love and hard work put into them. It does upset me that this happened in the U.S....
It doesn't make us look good at all in America :/ Even if it was only New York but it kinda shows how some Americans don't have respect for other people's property.

I honestly want to think it was someone who knew about BJDs. I mean,you'd really need to know what's valuable and what's just not as expensive or rare. So I truly believe the thief/thieves knew about ABJDs and all that.
I will look into eBay and everywhere I can to see if I find anything like everyone else. We much be hopeful that they'll appear and be back to the Volks Family.

 

soooo not silly, same happened to me on a trip to San Fran when i was 11 (as in my Gizmo was stolen off my hotel bed)

I'd be happy to help checking out some sites i just need to know which to watch