Quoted from Dent00:

I would bet that the FBI will be called in. That being said, you can bet that someone will be investigating the shippers, the shipping company, the "pawn shop" and the guys that purchased the stolen machine.

Quoted from CrazyLevi:

How can that be proven?
How many resources can we expect a local police department to expend in this investigation? Should we bring in the Feds?

Quoted from CrazyLevi:

U Ship - like all these "gig economy" companies - has done everything it can to insulate itself from any blame. I doubt they have any legal responsibility in this matter.
I still can't believe someone hired these glorified middlemen to ship a $6,000 pinball machine, but that's another matter altogether. Of all the things to save a few bucks on, shipping a pinball machine isn't one of them.

Quoted from ripple:

The prosecutor declined to file charges.

Quoted from modfather:

I can offer you 50 dollar gift certificate for anything in my store

Quoted from ChipScott:

Yeah, this all worked out great. Thanks again and great work, Isaac / ripple !
Yeah, Isaac sent me a picture that he was sent of the game. I mean, who the heck lifts up a back box halfway up to show that the game "turns on" during a legit pinball sale!!
I could tell by what I could see on the playfield that it included the all mods that I had made/put in it and Isaac was good to ask for more pictures. When I saw the pic of the coinbox, it had included a few extras that I had originally put in there for the OP (Rick)...some complimentary rubber stoppers, some of the Pinmonk gels still in their package that I had not installed, as well as some dome covers in factory bags that I had not changed out yet. It all matched up!!!
At that point, I knew that that was the game.
I was the third owner of that game and after speaking with isaac, a couple days before these dudes were going to arrive, I spent much of the afternoon on the phone ultimately getting back to the original owner (who actually runs an arcade about 3 hours from my house). Turns out, it really wasn't even his, as much as it was his friends that also works at that arcade. But it just so happens that this arcade owner is fairly diligent with his paperwork and when I reached out to him, he was actually able to not only pull out a picture of the back of the game with its serial number, but he also still had the original warranty! Let's hear it for DreamTR (thanks again, Jason!).
Once we had that serial number, I was able to give it to the OP (Rick), and from there, the police were able to get that into the police report. That was a key move, because having that serial number in the official police report gave the Boise Idaho cops (where Isaac lives) the right to hold the machine.
I spoke with the Boise Idaho detectives the following day after the game was secured at the Boise Idaho Police station and gave them the official bill of sale that had associated documentation stating that this was money from Rick to me for the TMNT pinball machine. That was all the detective needed to work with Rick to get the game back to him. Got a text from OP/Rick yesterday...sounds like they have already released the machine and he has already spoken with Michelle at STI/CRST to get the game delivered to his house!!!
Unbelievable.
I've been calling it "CSI:Boise Idaho", haha
Awesome job everyone!!!!!!!!
-Chip

Quoted from CrazyLevi:

How can that be proven?
How many resources can we expect a local police department to expend in this investigation? Should we bring in the Feds?

Quoted from ChipScott:

Yeah, this all worked out great. Thanks again and great work, Isaac / ripple !
Yeah, Isaac sent me a picture that he was sent of the game. I mean, who the heck lifts up a back box halfway up to show that the game "turns on" during a legit pinball sale!!
I could tell by what I could see on the playfield that it included the all mods that I had made/put in it and Isaac was good to ask for more pictures. When I saw the pic of the coinbox, it had included a few extras that I had originally put in there for the OP (Rick)...some complimentary rubber stoppers, some of the Pinmonk gels still in their package that I had not installed, as well as some dome covers in factory bags that I had not changed out yet. It all matched up!!!
At that point, I knew that that was the game.
I was the third owner of that game and after speaking with isaac, a couple days before these dudes were going to arrive, I spent much of the afternoon on the phone ultimately getting back to the original owner (who actually runs an arcade about 3 hours from my house). Turns out, it really wasn't even his, as much as it was his friends that also works at that arcade. But it just so happens that this arcade owner is fairly diligent with his paperwork and when I reached out to him, he was actually able to not only pull out a picture of the back of the game with its serial number, but he also still had the original warranty! Let's hear it for DreamTR (thanks again, Jason!).
Once we had that serial number, I was able to give it to the OP (Rick), and from there, the police were able to get that into the police report. That was a key move, because having that serial number in the official police report gave the Boise Idaho cops (where Isaac lives) the right to hold the machine.
I spoke with the Boise Idaho detectives the following day after the game was secured at the Boise Idaho Police station and gave them the official bill of sale that had associated documentation stating that this was money from Rick to me for the TMNT pinball machine. That was all the detective needed to work with Rick to get the game back to him. Got a text from OP/Rick yesterday...sounds like they have already released the machine and he has already spoken with Michelle at STI/CRST to get the game delivered to his house!!!
Unbelievable.
I've been calling it "CSI:Boise Idaho", haha
Awesome job everyone!!!!!!!!
-Chip

Quoted from Kkoss24:

Just curious ,did they set up the game for the police to play ?

Quoted from luch:

it evidence why would they set it up for them to play , do they try out the cocaine too

Quoted from luch:

it evidence why would they set it up for them to play , do they try out the cocaine too

Quoted from luch:

it evidence why would they set it up for them to play , do they try out the cocaine too

Quoted from Kkoss24:

I’d imagine after watching the bad LT. It just would’ve made an incredible ending to an incredible story that’s all .

Quoted from Kkoss24:

The bad lieutenant (Original with Harvey of course ) would make an interesting pin .

Quoted from Atari_Daze:

Just as long as they don't include "little" kitel on it. Seeing that once was too many times! I think that was only in the nc-17 version.

Quoted from Atari_Daze:

Just as long as they don't include "little" kitel on it. Seeing that once was too many times! I think that was only in the nc-17 version.

Quoted from Dent00:

Seems like the end result is that the "shippers" made off with $300 of the pawn shop's money that is not likely to ever be returned. And the new owner of the machine will likely have to pay again to have the machine shipped out of the police evidence area to his home. That just seems wrong to me on both counts. Someone should be held accountable for theft of stolen property, buying stolen property, or both. But, I guess this is the real world that we live in. Crime pays, like about $300, assuming you don't get caught later on. It is probably a small miracle that ripple was able to identify the machine in the first place. In any event, the new owner will have an interesting story to tell as long as he is in possession of said machine. Probably should write it all down and paste the story somewhere on the machine, assuming he ever actually gets it.

Quoted from Dent00:

Seems like the end result is that the "shippers" made off with $300 of the pawn shop's money that is not likely to ever be returned.

Quoted from fosaisu:

Hard to feel too bad for the pawn shop guys, if they're actually in the business they knew what they were doing and that they purchased stolen goods. They've probably done it 1,000 times and lost $300 bucks once.

Quoted from ripple:

Thanks for the offer modfather. When the detective showed he asked “ how did you identity this machine as being the stolen machine”? I showed a print out of the flyer and pointed out the mods on the playfield and said is was unlikely that any machine would have the same mods. Then I pointed to the shooter knob and said “ No one else has a knob exactly like that one”! I think everyone needs a custom shooter rod from modfather for quick visual identification of stolen machines . If you have a clone of the one from the machine I would take it as a reward or I have a Godzilla coming in maybe a custom Godzilla egg with rippling.

Quoted from modfather:

""Then I pointed to the shooter knob and said “ No one else has a knob exactly like that one”! I think everyone needs a custom shooter rod from modfather for quick visual identification of stolen machines . If you have a clone of the one from the machine I would take it as a reward or I have a Godzilla coming in maybe a custom Godzilla egg with rippling.
I would be happy to make both mods for you. Kindly send me your shipping info, and I will get it in the mail to you shortly. Chuck

Quoted from Mbecker:

It ain’t right but it’s a hell of a lot better than being out a full game. The methheads will end up getting caught eventually.

Quoted from parsonsaj:

Chuck is such a great guy! If I didn't already have Modfather shooter rods on all my games, this action by him would make me start to order them...

Quoted from captainadam_21:

Has this thread been added to the best of pinside thread? I can't seem to find the thread to add it

Quoted from jawjaw:

That's the best you can hope for in most of these cases. Glad thieves only got $300 and owner got their game back in the end. Not sure you can really blame the pawn shop, though. How would they really know it was stolen? They, like most people, probably had no idea what a pin like that is worth. If this was put up for sale on Craigslist or something for cheap, everyone would be racing over with cash in hand to get it.

Quoted from Kkoss24:

Just curious ,did they set up the game for the police to play ?

Quoted from cartert:

I know for a fact that most police use the items that have been confiscated.

Quoted from cartert:

I know for a fact that most police use the items that have been confiscated.

Quoted from CrazyLevi:

[quoted image]

Quoted from cartert:

So do I and can state for a fact that confiscated items get used by law informant for personal and law informant use.

Quoted from cartert:

Yes. Am referencing State Police level. Know of several item that have been used prior to going to trial like tractors that suddenly have 500 hr more hrs on them ...hum. Big screen TV that disappear, jet skis....yes even pinball machines. Tried to track a few down and they just disappeared

Quoted from CrazyLevi:

U Ship - like all these "gig economy" companies - has done everything it can to insulate itself from any blame. I doubt they have any legal responsibility in this matter.
I still can't believe someone hired these glorified middlemen to ship a $6,000 pinball machine, but that's another matter altogether. Of all the things to save a few bucks on, shipping a pinball machine isn't one of them.

Quoted from Joe_Blasi:

U ship is not really an gig economy but more an ebay for shipping. They do not control people who work them the way the uber does.

Quoted from cartert:

nope. drugs are only used in stings..as far as I know

Quoted from shovelhed:

cartert, I call total bullshit on your statements about Law Enforcement using evidence for personal gain. The Officers would lose their jobs and it goes against what they stand for. You have watched to much Reno 911.