I doubt anyone is going to try to connect a stolen pin to the internet, but if it is pawned/sold it might end up online eventually. (Then what? Stern contacts the "pinball squad" to serve warrants to track the IP to who knows where? Stern sends out a version of code that has potential to cause damage to legit customers? - seems easier to just send another pin and forget about it.)

Also - can't rule out that FEDEX looses 1000s of shipments every day and has no idea where they are but they are sure yours was stolen off a train because the shipping label was scanned at the train depot. Maybe a forklift scraped the label off and now its just sitting in some warehouse and they will get in contact with Stern eventually. (FEDEX has found large packages that were long overdue for my company - they looked at the old labels, etc and made calls)

The last 2 stolen pins on Pinside were recovered intact so miracles do happen. Hope it turns up!

BTW - what do you mean covered with Star Wars stickers?

lol, Star Wars sticker or not, the thieves had already broken in so it looks like everything is unloaded no matter the label if FEDEX is claiming it was just punks cleaning out random stopped rail cars.

They do make shrouded type padlocks that are uncuttable. Seems like a problem that could be solved if someone wanted to.

A padlock recessed deep inside a 6" pipe casing would cause most to look for greener pastures IMHO.

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