ALERT! Stolen Pipes. Be on Lookout.

[David M]

Hey All,

Posting this info which an acquaintance of mine placed on his website.

*********
[SIZE=3]ALERT: [/SIZE][SIZE=2]I just this moment (9:00 Tues. night) received
a call from an old friend as well as a good customer. His
house was burgled, and a complete cabinet of his pipes
was stolen. He had, almost exclusively, very high grade
pipes, including at least two, and perhaps more, Bo Nordh
pipes. His focus was on extremely fine straight grain
pipes. If you are approached with the possibility of
acquiring high grade pipes from a dicey source, please
contact your local authorities because this is felony
material, it is not a misdemeanor. Also, please contact
me immediately so that I can alert the victim. Finally,
please let everybody you know in the hobby of this
event. We are a small community and it is not impossible
that we can recover some, if not all, of these pipes. The
theft took place in Walnut Creek, Calif., but the pipes
could surface anywhere. Thank you.[/SIZE][SIZE=2]
[/SIZE][SIZE=2]********[/SIZE]

Please Spread The Word Around As Much As Possible To Friends and People In The Industry.

Thanks

[sounds7]

I cant help him without pictures.

Originally Posted by David M

Hey All,

Posting this info which an acquaintance of mine placed on his website.

*********
[SIZE=3]ALERT: [/SIZE][SIZE=2]I just this moment (9:00 Tues. night) received
a call from an old friend as well as a good customer. His
house was burgled, and a complete cabinet of his pipes
was stolen. He had, almost exclusively, very high grade
pipes, including at least two, and perhaps more, Bo Nordh
pipes. His focus was on extremely fine straight grain
pipes. If you are approached with the possibility of
acquiring high grade pipes from a dicey source, please
contact your local authorities because this is felony
material, it is not a misdemeanor. Also, please contact
me immediately so that I can alert the victim. Finally,
please let everybody you know in the hobby of this
event. We are a small community and it is not impossible
that we can recover some, if not all, of these pipes. The
theft took place in Walnut Creek, Calif., but the pipes
could surface anywhere. Thank you.[/SIZE][SIZE=2]
[/SIZE][SIZE=2]********[/SIZE]

Please Spread The Word Around As Much As Possible To Friends and People In The Industry.

Thanks

[dmkerr]

If you can, you might want to post a list of the stolen pipes with as much detail as possible. My strong hunch is that since the pipe fraternity is at least as much of a brotherhood as anything out there, the pipes will be reported if they're found.

[David M]

I agree with both your suggestions.
Unfortunately myself and the original poster are not the victims here and so info is limited. I did pass along the request though.
Police cant find a stolen vehicle without at least a general idea of make and description. So I am right there with ya.

There is also an element of 'if you see someone selling a big lot of high grade pipes' you know who to call but still. Who knows what he/she will do and how they try to sell them.

I was confused by the "2 or more Bo Nordh pipes" comment.
Hard to believe that the collector did not know how many pipes he had from a specific carver.

Will pass along more info if I get it.
Thanks for keeping an eye out.
Fellow brother and all so we can all feel his pain.

[afilter]

[QUOTE=David M;2637694]
I was confused by the "2 or more Bo Nordh pipes" comment.
Hard to believe that the collector did not know how many pipes he had from a specific carver.
[/ QUOTE]

I see your point..my guess is that it was not the victim who posted the original alert, but the shop owner who new that they had purchased at least 2 of these in not more.

[Mad Hatter]

I think if pipes show up on ebay in the rare collectors price range someone will probably notice and word will get back to the owner. Pipe smokers and collectors are a small community.

[DubintheDam]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

I think if pipes show up on ebay in the rare collectors price range someone will probably notice and word will get back to the owner. Pipe smokers and collectors are a small community.

I think the best thing the previous owner can do is keep an eye on Ebay over the next few months....but this is a bummer....I can see them stealing my laptop or a flatscreen TV...but my pipes...that would kill me.

[David M]

I may be getting the list of pipes soon. That will help.

Turns out its actually TWENTY!!!!! Bo Nordh pipes.
If this Gentleman has 20 of those pipes. Holy Mary - I cant even begin to imagine the total appraised cost of his whole collection.
One Bo Nordh seems to easily go for $4,000 and above.
Kind of flabbergasting. (very under utilized word right there)

There is one Nordh pipe on eBay right now.
Closet Inspector Clouseau's UNITE!

[frankluke]

the thieves obviously went for the pipes, i've heard thats all they stole.. i wonder if they know how hard it will be to move them on the black market? or will it?

[sounds7]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

I think the best thing the previous owner can do is keep an eye on Ebay over the next few months....but this is a bummer....I can see them stealing my laptop or a flatscreen TV...but my pipes...that would kill me.

true

It would be like stealing a close friend or family member. The guy must be beside himself with grief.

[Mr.Lordi]

Originally Posted by frankluke

the thieves obviously went for the pipes, I've heard thats all they stole.. i wonder if they know how hard it will be to move them on the black market? or will it?

This doesn't make any sense to me, at all. Why would a theft just steal pipes? Why wouldn't he steal something easier to get rid of and make money on. Pipes are not exactly rollexs or computers.

Whoever stole the pipes must have knowledge or at least some knowledge of there worth, no?

It reminds me of when I first moved to the city where I lived now. First day in the new place, we had a break in. Stole, mostly, prescription meds. Turns out it was my neighbors who, through talking with my mother, found out that we had them through casual conversation and since they were low class druggies, stole them. Even got my wallet and social security number.

Point is, they knew what we had, and what they wanted. Whoever it is, is probably someone he knows, who knows those pipes are of value. That sounds too odd to be some random, petty criminal scum doing it.

I doubt they were even stolen for money, since there are so much better and easier ways to get it. Pipes don't sell fast, even good ones, and you are not going to see the guy in a trench coat, on the street corner, flashing the goods to everyone who walks by "Hey man, you want to buy a high grade tobacco pipe?"

the guy probaly wanted them for his own collection and is probably kicking back smoking it right now.

I doubt they will come up as far as New England, but I'll keep an eye out for them.

[David M]

Kind of related....does anyone have insurance for their pipe collection?
I would not be surprised if many a pipe collector has had their collection appraised and insured.

***

Would you protect them or show them?
Keep them in full view in the living room or behind lock and key?

I have heard of this amazing pipe safe laser sight enhanced silent alarm vibration control magnetising power suite instant steel door down system for safe-guarding pipes. Might look into it.

[David M]

Originally Posted by frankluke

the thieves obviously went for the pipes, i've heard thats all they stole.. i wonder if they know how hard it will be to move them on the black market? or will it?

Just curious...from a how fast and to where does a message travel over the internet...perspective - Where did you hear about it??

I think it all depends.
If the crook stole it for another collector wanting to spit current collector because they are enemies. Nothing will be public.

There's 101 silly and some realistic scenarios we could come up with.
From what I hear this collection was extremely extensive. Many many, likely hundreds of pipes.
I could see a Black Market for pipes existing in some shady places.
Who knows....this guy was maybe talking a bit too loud about his collection in front of the wrong people and they took advantage. Bastages!

Come on Clouseau's!!!

[David M]

Originally Posted by sounds7

I cant help him without pictures.

I found out that one of them was a Ramses.
Looks like this. Just in style though. I have no idea what color or surface treatment or anything. Just that it was a Ramses.


By DMDM


By DMDM


By DMDM

Hopefully I will get more pictures and info tomorrow.

At this point (although I very much want to help the guy and would love it if we caught this thief or recovered some pipes through our efforts) I want to see this man's collection.
20 Bo Nordh pipes sounds astonishing. I can only imagine what else he has.

[drastic_quench]

If a collection (of anything) that valuable wasn't insured, I've got very little sympathy for the victim.

Still, even with insurance money in hand, it sounds like these are some irreplaceable puffers.