Four of my stolen games have been found thanks to Fast-Ed in Potosi. The original thread can be viewed here; https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stolen-games-mid-missouri-help-request

The problem is, they’re at a pawn shop, and the pawn shop is refusing to release them. The Washington County Missouri Sheriff’s Department has put a hold on the games, so the pawn shop can’t legally sell them. The pawn shop has obtained an attorney and is citing Missouri Statute Section 367.044.1 to require me to either pay them for my games, or complete all the requirements listed in the statute. The statute can be seen here: http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/36700000441.html

Anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? Particularly looking for someone with legal experience that has dealt with a statute like this. It’s completely unimaginable to me that I’d be required to pay for my own property and/or jump through these hoops to get my property back.

Really big thanks to local friends and collectors Ed, Chris, and Dave for their help in finding and helping me attempt to get these pins back.

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

This is what I'm looking for, any recommendations on an attorney? This is completely uncharted water for me.

It's not so much that I'm uncomfortable doing it myself, it's just it seems that a lot could go wrong with the requirements, and then not only am I on the hook for the cost of *my* games, but their attorney fees as well.

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

The Sheriff's Department has already identified the games as mine. Serial numbers, descriptions, game names from when they were stolen, and even my name sharpied on the side of the new VisionPro monitor boxes. The Sheriff has "released" the games to me and my buddy Chris was set to go pick them up when the pawn shop told him they weren't releasing them. This was earlier in the week, and I only found out today from the Sheriff that they obtained an attorney and are citing this statute.

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

No worries, definitely "just a fuse."

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

Not sure how you interpreted things this way. Yes they were in a building used for storage. They were on my property, the same property with my home.

Seven games stolen, four found.

No insurance.

The seller of the games to the pawn shop is the same thief that has been charged and is facing many years in prison on related charges.

Sheriff has always intended to be present on game pick up. There's nothing they can do until requirements of the statute are completed, or I pay the pawn shop for them.

Thanks everyone for the support and suggestions.

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

You can say that again! I don't want to sound defeated, but I don't have the energy for this any more. This has been going on for more than two years now. I've never had anxiety issues in my life, never understood how some friends and family did. In the past few months, I'm experiencing overwhelming anxiety, all the time. I've put the property on the market for far less than it’s worth because I just can't deal with it any more. I can't go to the property any more, I get physically ill going there and massive anxiety for days before thinking about going out there.

Court date after court date, dealing with law enforcement and prosecutors that won't return messages, it’s all very frustrating and adds to the anxiety. They obviously have better things to do, and I get that, but it's incredibly frustrating and difficult to want do anything but completely avoid anything related.

I want the games back, and I'll definitely get them, but it's crossed my mind to just let them go.

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

To be completely clear, I don't think the Sheriff department is/has done anything nefarious in any way. Stolen property recovery isn't at the top of their list, I get that, and I don't think they're doing anything wrong, it's just not a priority for them.

My initial calls to the Sheriff to let them know about these games found in their backyard, I let them know I was out of state on service. I was told I *absolutely* had to be there to identify the games and made the several hundred mile trek back to the area. Only to be told the next day that I didn't need to come in, they identified the games as mine from the previous info they had and pictures they sent.

I set up with the Deputy handling the case to have a friend come and pick up the games. I was told that was perfectly fine, they'd have everything in order, and to have my friend call and arrange things a couple of days in advance to allow them enough notice to have a deputy accompany him.

At this point I will go to get them myself with all required affidavits and paperwork.

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

Well, not quite. The pins are only a very, very, small fraction of what's been stolen, most of which has not been recovered. The amount of stuff that has been stolen, damaged, and ransacked is staggering. I only posted the pins because that's what's relevant here.

I'm definitely very grateful to hopefully get the pins back though. Again, huge thanks to Ed, Chris, and Dave for their help, and now to Jayhawkai for help with the paperwork. I knew these pins would eventually turn up, it took more than a year, but I'm glad to almost have them back.

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

Thank you. Thieves suck, and it's something I just don't understand. It's not yours, what makes you think you can take it? I know that's incredibly naive, but I just can't wrap my head around what makes someone think they can take something that isn't theirs.

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

But there was no problem. This was all worked out before hand with the Sheriff as previously stated, and it was perfectly fine with them. Whoever my "agent" was to gather my property for me was irrelevant.

The pawn shop's comments to my friend was, "we need to be paid for them before they're going anywhere." It wouldn't have mattered who showed up, they weren't going to release them.

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com

I'm very happy to report that the four pins found are finally in my possession.

It's taken many sleepless nights, almost daily phone calls, sometimes several a day for almost four months, but the games where loaded into my vehicle this morning.

HUGE thanks to my local buddy Chris C. for the help with moving them and throughout this whole ridiculous process.

Very sorry I didn't update before this, but I really had nothing but frustration to report until today, and this thread got more than a little out of hand.

I also want to thank Fast-Ed for letting me know he found them, Andrew R for help with the paperwork, and the following people for helping me get some of my property off of the farm before it all got stolen too. There's some really fantastic people in this hobby, and these are just a few of them...Mark Czarnowski, Dale Brown, Troy Smith, his Dad, and friend Jonathan, and Basil LeBlanc. I owe you all a great deal of gratitude, respect, and so much more, thank you!!

--
Rob Anthony
Pinball Classics
http://LockWhenLit.com
Quality Board Work - In Home Service
borygard at gmail dot com