*alert* SEVEN DISPLAY DOLLS MISSING FROM NY DOLPA

Without trying to accuse or blame, my mom said I should report this...

While she was sitting at the dinner table, she noticed one caterer in particular who looked very very interested in the dolls. At first she thought it was cute, since out dolls are pretty interesting looking and odd. But as the night went on, she said he seemed a little too interested, and at one point, was leading his friend around the display table and the one-off table.

It's probably benign and it was just two guys looking at dolls, but we both thought it was sort of suspicious...

I was standing near the make-up artists when the announcement was made, and Mayumi started crying, and so many of the artists were so upset. It just sickens me- but hopefully near-ALL of DOA mobilized, these dolls will turn up. I hope so!

 

The part I find really hard to accept is how all the artists must be feeling right now. Yes, I do feel bad for Volks as a company, but my heart really goes to the artists. My sincerest hope is that the dolls will be recovered and the disgusting thief or thieves get arrested and charged with maximum amount allowed.

 

Sorry but I think anyone with even a tiny a conscience would (and bloody well should) come forward if they found thay had bought any part of these dolls.

And if you are buying one of the models of the missing dolls, asking to see the head plate and a shot of the inside of the head isn't too much to ask.

Likely anyone selling one of these models will do it anyways to keep the rest of the bjd world from cross examining them.

 

I think an Irvin being for sale and in hand right now would be suspicious as he hasn't been released yet. So the missing Irvin is the only one that is made so far.

 

Well, some people DO get very, very interested in these dolls upon first meeting them, though. This enchantment is what converts most of us.

Again, I want to give a reminder that we should try to keep our heads cool, and do as much as we can without becoming vigilante-minded or newshungry. There's only so much we can know or say about the investigation that is so far just among Volks, FDQ, FIT, and the police.

At the party itself, there was this feeling of the thief being in biiiig trouble with this dolly mafia now on the prowl.

There's been something I've been pondering that I'd like to propose:

What, realistically would or should you do if you managed to find one. Say you walked into a pawn shop or doll store and saw one there... or if you happened to bump into someone holding one of them. What would your best mode of action be?

Would you pounce on it and say "Hey, wait! Did you know that's stolen property?" or would you feign innocent interest and say "What a pretty doll! Where did you get it?" and talk your way into being allowed to inspect it.

If it was the doll... then what?

I'm wondering if it might help to have FDQ's number on one's phone, or to know someone on DOA who can pass the news on. How many of us have camera phones?

 

This is a really good point. If it's on one of our doll marketplaces, it can more or less be taken care of, but in a shop situation, that's a tougher call.

 

That would be an amazingly bad idea and I really hope that no one does that to someone they walk up to on the street -- especially since there have been a few things already mistaken for the stolen dolls on auction listings. Walking up to a stranger and accusing them of theft is just not something to do.

 

Just posted a message from Pat in the News thread, 1st post, found here:
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/sh...25#post2771925
-Am

 

Inspect the doll and if you believe it is stolen (as in no head plate, right model, signature inside the head ect ect ect) then call the police. They will take your report. BUT DEAR GOD be sure, don't accuse someone if you are not 100% positive.

I would say print out pictures of the dolls and tuck them in your purse, if you see one somewhere they don't belong (ie a collectables store or antique store ect) then compare them to the picture. Ask questions as if you are interested in pruchasing the doll.

But we are not the police and can do the most good just being on the look out. Be watchful but accurate. But never try and apprend someone, that's a job for the police.

 

^_^ Good, you all get what I'm saying. We need to stay cool.

Hmm... has anybody been down in the general area lately? I feel a little bad. I live in NY but I've been staying indoors and out of the heat lately. I'm not really familiar with with kind of stores they might show up in in that neighborhood, and the trash in varying places has probably been collected since then.

Maybe, if the culprit(s) is reading this and we're just telling him/her where not to put it so we can find it, we should give him/her the option of just leaving the dolls in a specific place in case s/he has no faith in "no questions asked."

 

I think a good way if you saw someone holding one you suspected might be to say something like "What a gorgeous doll! Where did you get it? Ooh, can I see a few things? I haven't ever bought from this company, I wanted to check a few things out that I've heard about them...." While some people might not let you hold them, or even show you the things without you touching, it could easily take someone out of suspicion.

 

That's a good question... what we'd do if we saw one. If I thought I had fooled them, I think I'd try to buy it. Just to get it into my hands. I'd take whatever info I could otherwise.

It really is a lot of money somebody stole. If they realize their worth, they might be very willing to hurt somebody who tried to take the dolls or who told them they knew they were stolen. I am more than certain that Mr. Shigeta would not want ANYONE to try to take matters into their own hands and get hurt over this.

 

the link isn't working for me


I hope these dolls are found. I'm on the west coast, and I'm not too good at recognizing specific Volks dolls, but if I see or hear anything of use, I'll be sure to post it or pm a mod about it.

also, this may have been posted already in addition to them being listed as "lotr dolls", "porcelin dolls" etc, but someone who doesn't know what they are may call them all kids of things like "chinese doll", "japanese doll" "geisha doll" "oriental doll" etc... they most definitely may get posted under vauge and incorrect terms.

 

The link to the Announcement thread in News -

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220740

 

Just pointing out the fact that a roller suit case (the big kind you use for long trips) could probably hold seven dolls, especially if a couple were smaller like the MSD's. So it could still be one person, not two, and getting past a security camera without being seen with the actual dolls in hand would be possible too, as well as not raising much suspicion since no one would have known that anything was stolen yet, especially if the room was being shared with business people.

Admittedly, the case would be heavy as hell, but still, wheels.

But like it's been said before, speculation doesn't really help at this point; just keep an eye on places where they might show up.

Has anyone organized a MAW fundraising thing, or are there plans for one?

 

Her name is Yuko Mizushima, though she does not wear suits of any sort. She does have a climate controlled room stuffed full of Volks Limiteds (and unlimteds, and FCS, and the like) into which even I am only rarely admitted.

She's not all that larcenous however - I hope.

Still... that fragment of humour aside, I pray that our thieves are a few dollars short of an FCS in the old noodle department and are just daft enough to sell them - unlikely, as so many have pointed out, but still...

And to those who feel frustrated at the many posts offering conjecture and theory: let them be.

We all feel the hurt of this and all need a place to vent (if in a controlled fashion). Far better we do it here, among people who will (or should) understand our collective grief than in badgering the actual investigators/suffering parties (though I do note that Volks has been recieving a good few messages from the Japan fans - as well as not a few notes of support for the US fan-base).

Well, that's my daily, impotent, screaming, frustrated and saddened rant over.

Darren.

 

Partial crossposting from the theft info post on my dolly LJ, there have already been photos posted here so I guess I shouldn't post to the news thread but I will share them here. (Of course if a mod sees this and wants to post the links or wants me to do it, no problem, just don't want to add clutter.)

My photos aren't that great but I got full body and closeups of each of the stolen dolls. I put them on Flickr in pretty high res (click on all sizes, you can link that directly too), with a notice about the theft. Please feel free to link these wherever you like if they are of use.

SD16 girl Ruby Full body 1 / Full body 2 / Closeup 1 / Closeup 2

Irvin, there were two on the table but they were basically identical so who knows which is which. I can't imagine a BJD fan wouldn't recognize him since he doesn't look like any other doll, but maybe for someone who isn't familiar with Volks molds . . .
Full body 1 / Full body 2 / High res closeup (more closeups in the photostream)

MSD F-21 and MSD F-13 Full body
F-21 closeup
F-13 closeup

SD13 girl F-29 and MSD girl F-22 Full body
MSD girl F-22 closeup 1 / closeup 2
SD13 girl F-29 closeup 1 / closeup 2

SD13 boy tan F-31 full body / closeup 1 / closeup 2

 

Horrid thought, if it IS in the hands of collectors, that these dolls can easily be split apart. They were all FCS molds, were they not? If this person knew what they were doing, the dolls could easily be split and sold as heads, bodies...

The dress sets are pretty easily recognized- but they could be easily spirited off as a replica.

 

I've read about people who have had their dolls stolen when they took them to different events and this made me worry about taking my dolls into public.

I never thought that someone would be low enough to steal anything from Volks, or any comapny that was nice enough to offer an event that allows everyone to see their beautiful dolls. The fact that of it took place in the US is beyond shameful to me. Volks has done so much to help US collectors get items for their dolls, and the lottery for LE items, that I just don't want to believe that a doll collector would do this.

Just reading about the artist that were crying when the theft was announced, makes me angry. Even in the face of such a crule theft, Mr. Shigeta is willing to let the person or goup that took the dolls off the hook if they return them. I'm not one to wish for bad luck on others, but I see some very bad karma in the future of anyone that had a part in taking the dolls.

Just thinking about someone taking one or all of my dolls, makes me want to cry. The theft of 7 blows my mind !

 

That is exactly what I was saying.
I hope it wasn't a stupid question.

It's just that so many people are on the hunt for the missing dolls,that the first Irvan posted on here may get some bad stigma from people who don't know the model is being sold through Volks,or will be.^ ^;
I'm sorry if that sounds too dumb.