Maybe you guys can help me out....

[crystella333]

May you guys can help me out because atm I'm not too sure how in the hell I can deal with this probelm.

Back in January, I went to Nottingham for a warhammer campaign weekend thingy at Warhammer World. Took alot of things down with me included my monster figure case full of all kinds of lovely monsters and such. Had a wonderful time, meet lots of peeps and packed it all away on Sunday night and that was that. Comes round to Monday morning and checking out I forgot my monster figure case, left it behind in the room in the place where I had put it after getting into my room on sunday night.
I couldn't get in touch with the hotel and so I went back on the same monday to see if it had been handed in by housekeeping. But to my bad luck, no it hadn't, so I left my name and number at the reception and left. Phoned the hotel on tuesday evening and got told yes they had it and would I like it posting? hell no those things weight a ton so I said I'll come down and collect it.
Fast forward now to the 15th of Febuary, I travel over to Nottingham to have a game and to collect my case. Pulling up outside of the Premier Inn on Goldsmith St. I expect to run in and sign for it and collect it. No such luck. Firstly it wasn't in their lost property room and so they had to look for it (again). When the guy in charge of sercurity comes down with it, I notice one of the buckles is open so I decide to open it up and checkit out. To my horror the case has been emptied...£320 of monsters and orges taken out of the case. Hotel was saying at first that I could claim £50 from the hotel insurance to which I replied that is was £320 of models in the case. Then housekeeping pipes in that it only contended sponge in they found it in the room. I said to that when I got in on sunday night I wouldn't have a reason to go into the case so it should have been full and I couldn't have carried them out in anything other that the case. The person in charge at the hotel was not looking impressed so I then said I'd like to report it to the police as theft, to which case it has been done and I'm just waiting on the police report to see what I can do.
Because I've reported to the police the hotel are waiting for them to sort out the insurance claim too (I didn't know that at the time) so not happy atm.

But what would you guys have done or do now about this?

 

[10 ball]

I would of done much the same. You have been robbed, and the police is the only action now.
You could go on a mad rampage at the hotel but you would still only get their insurance the same.
I only hope the police take little minis seriously and not just as toys
Bad situation, sorry to her about it

 

[kittykat23uk]

Oh dear that suck! Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Have you got travel insurance? If you have it might be worth checking your policy to see if you are covered. Hope you get some money back for the models but that won't bring back all the hard work. It might be worth putting the word out about what exactly got stolen, check ebay, the tournaments etc in case the thief tries to sell or game with your stuff.

 

[Tommie Soule]

along with waht has already been said i would emphasise to any parties you involve that whais lost is no a mere trinket but YOUR WORK wether for gw or as a freelancer your LIVELYHOOD has been effected.

T

 

[cassar]

make sure you get a crime report reference no from the police you will need it for the insurance claim you might be able to get it from your own house insurance depending on the cover youy have. unfortunately you dont stand a snowballs chance of getting your stuff back so i wouldnt get your hopes up.

 

[squidders]

Home contents insurance... Check it covers your stuff away from the home.

 

[crystella333]

Thanks guys
The guys at warhammer world know about and I've got a friend that will keep his eye out for them.
As for home contents insurance...never had it and now is one of those time called 'hind-sight' will know to get it for the future.

One thing that did shock me was the fact that its okay for housekeeping to open things left behind in the room without reporting it to anyone else first.

 

[wiccanpony]

Lizcam said to keep an eye on Ebay ..........

 

[supervike]

You handled it as well as could be expected. Unfortunately, there isn't much more you can do now, other than hope someone with an overwhelming sense of guilt has them.

Thieves suck.

 

[cassar]

you should post a list on here and hopefully someone might spot something. Many eyes make light work

 

[dogfacedboy uk1]

Well if by some good fortune the idiot who stole them is dumb enough to ebay them and you are alerted to it, make sure you put it a ridiculous bid to ensure you win your items back and then claim you never received them and get your money back. Then report to the police.

Are any of these photographed? Perhaps you could post some pictures here so we know what to look out for?

 

[mud duck]

Pictures to the local game shops. "Like hey guys, I was robbed, etc. etc. Could you keep a eye out if someone come in here trying to sell these off." I'd think that would improve the chances of get your stuff back if not nicking the nickers.

The up shot is; You get to paint your stuff better, do it the way it should be?

 

[crystella333]

unfortunaly they weren't all finished some were still only undercoated and drybrushed. Since I had left the case back in january very little hope of seeing them on ebay now I think but I've been check. My local store knows about the theft, but my local store is chester not any of the nottingham GW's.
Things that are amongst the missing include a stonehorn (with a glitter sheen on its horns and a broken tail) an arachnarok spider (done with yellow patterning on it) a cockatrice (done in a metallic midnight blue) 5 trolls, 6 sabertusks,a mangler squigs, thundertusk 2 classic goblin shamans and half of my 2400pt ogre army as well. plus little touches done to bases and such.
Like I said its taught me to get some kind of insurance that covers my items when I'm away and to take pictures, no matter if they are finished or not.

 

[mud duck]

I guess another up shot is that your case didn't make the nightly news.

"Today in Nottingham. A local hotel called in a suspicious package to local Authorities. The Bomb Squad was called in, and the package was detonated safely. So far, no group has taken responsibility." :smile-big:


Well that, and you did get the case back. And, gosh darn it! Them things can get expensive!

 

[kathrynloch]

So sorry to hear about this Crys but you may still have a chance. Thieves typically wait a bit for stolen items to "cool-off" before they sell them. If you don't have photos, make a very clear and concise detailed list of each mini - especially if you signed any of the finished ones - note that. Then fax it to GW's stores in the area or if you can email it, get it to those and the outlying areas too. And I would watch ebay as well. If someone knows what they have, they will probably strip them and just sell the unpainted models. If they don't know what they have, they may try selling them at a GW or take them in and ask about value. I'm sure you guys have pawn shops in the UK, so they might try to sell them but I don't know if a pawn shop would take them. It would be difficult to find one to take them in the US, that's for sure.

So sorry and I hope the hotel insurance works out. They probably wanted to keep it at $50 so their premiums don't go up. And if they're worried about that you may want to see if you can find out if that particular hotel has had a problem with theft. If it has, that indicates housekeeping or other staff.

 

[crystella333]

well, I've finally had some luck after all the messing around I've had. Got a refund of my stay for the way my complaint has been handled over the last fornight. The manager in charge at the Premeir Inn where this happened is in trouble due to her handling of things. And I've now sent off my claim to the insurance company. So just got to wait and see now. If I don't hear anything off them within 7 days, I'll send off a second letter but somehow I don't think that will be needed.
As you've surgested Kathryn, I have wrote out a list of all that was inside the case, trying to remember everyy little detail that I can. Wasn't easy but all done and if they had any special things about them.
Thanks for all the idea's you guys and girls have mentioned on here and for your support

 

[kathrynloch]

Well that's something at least. You know, the more I think about it, the more I think it is someone in housekeeping who is your culprit. A "guest" or someone who would have found it would have put it with their luggage and taken the entire thing. Much easier that way, especially since there were large size assembled models. Most travelers have their bags already packed solid, and forcing the stonehorn into the luggage would have squished it.

Housekeeping on the other hand would look odd carrying a case out the door. But taking individual models and putting them in a pocket or purse for a short trip home is easier. Since Nottingham is a mecca of gaming of sorts (from what I've read here) I bet someone there has a kid or niece/nephew who plays or is interested in a similar hobby. Try dropping a call to the detective (are they called inspectors over there?) in charge of the case and ask if they interviewed housekeeping or if anyone has been fired for theft or questionable actions recently. It will let the police know you are following up and are still interested in getting the items back. They should at least talk to employees or recently dismissed employees. Of course the police are probably busy and this won't garner much attention but if you explain your thinking, and tell them that you're just interested in getting the items back - not sending someone to jail, they might decide to talk to a few folks.

I don't know monetary limits over there but over here, considering the exchange rate, that amount of money would bump it to a Class A Misdemeanor which means a hefty fine and most likely a bit of jail time. We have three classes of misdemeanor - C is the lowest and A is the highest. After A its a felony charge which translates to jail time in the state pen.

Look at it this way, what do you have lose? lol! Good luck!

 

[crystella333]

Over here its just another small time theft of war-gaming figures, the fact that its out of a hotel that has cctv won't make that much of a difference. Its a report-it-give-it-a-number-and-that's-that kind of case. If they actually went to the hotel and looked at the cctv I'd be surprized. When I did ring up the other day, it was basically why are you botheringto chase it up? kind of answer. Not impressed and I've sent a letter off to the police complaint comission because at the end of the I'm a person and even if I don't get the figures back, I would like to know that its being looked into.

 

[kathrynloch]

I was afraid of that - now days if someone isn't shot or bleeding to death they don't give a flying flip.

 

[Ax3 the Zombie]

Sorry to hear, can't say anymore than what has been said. Good luck in the outcome.