Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Stolen Signs

All of these signs were stolen off a barn in Pickens, SC the weekend of the 13-15th of March. Please be on the lookout for these signs. This is for a friend of mine. Please let me know if you see these grouped together somewhere.

6 ft Round Pole hanging type signs:
Gulf dealer w/ hanging bracket
HC Sinclair / w band

Approx 6ft die cut or dimensional signs pole hanging:
Esso egg shape
Mobilgas shield shape
Dixie Gas Shield shape
American Gas egg shape with torch at top
Texaco hexhaginal Had tar spot on one side
Atlantic Squre sign

36” signs:
Shell Gasoline die cut
Texaco Gasoline motor oil
Skelly Tagolene Tombstone shaped
Standard polarine
Standard gasoline / motor oil
Cities service clover shape


Misc:
24 coke button
Penzoil sound your z Small egg shape
Hwy 123 Die Cut very old
Gargoyle Lollipop free standing curb sign
Esso plus price sign 36 per gallon

Cowl part of an A Model
Rail Road Crossing light

Wow, hope they find them.

Between thieves stealing off the barn wall and flea markets and shows or from your wallet on EBay, auctions and direct sales, crime/theft is prevalent in the collecting world. Yet one more reminder of how common this is amongst many of the warnings that we have seen on OG today and in the last month.

Man, I hope they catch the son of guns that took them and use the gun on them.

No cameras, alarms, anything ? Theft seems to be a recurring issue on this website. I will say this again...IF YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE ROAD, SOMEBODY WILL TRY TO GET IT ? Get a security camera system or at the very least a Moultrie 150 trail camera. It won't keep them from stealing it, but it will give you plenty of clear, focused still shots or video to help you identify the thieves. Dave

It takes a giant set of B@#!s to attempt to steal THAT MANY signs. That had to take some time. Assuming they couldnt just be ripped down if secured to the wood siding. Nevermind the height if it was high up. That would take even a skilled thief some time to get all that stuff down and in a vehicle.

Matt, if you could get a hold of some pictures that would really help. Even just a shot of the barn with the signs?

One thing I'm amazed by, after my own experiences, is how bold thieves are now. thefts that take hours to accomplish seem common now. I guess if you want to display outside you have to anchor from the inside or somehow make it completely non removable.

Just got some pictures

Here's some more.

Hope they catch whoever took them!

Pics really help! Will keep an eye out, hopefully your buddy is doing national craigslist searches.

Got a lead on 4 of the signs through a local Facebook page. Hopefully this is them.

I'll keep an eye out at Carlisle if they are not recovered by then. I have no use for a thief!

He got one of the Gulfs back. The others were already gone.

Check Charlotte NC. craigslist. There is a Shell, Esso, Gulf, and a Coke button, listed today. Can't tell from the pictures if they match up but worth taking a look at.

Here's the Dixie and American. These pictures were taking in an antique store by a guy that gave me the lead on the 4. They were sold before my friend could get to them. The Gulf was the only one left.
The Dixie is pretty distinct so it should be easy to spot.

While I really feel sorry for the owner, I can only say the outside of the building is for the barn hangers (the signs that we use to fill over a hole in the wall). Put your good signs inside the building. If you don't sooner or later someone will decide they want the signs more than you do.

Just watch more than one Picker's show and you will know they are always after signs, the whole country knows this.

Putting your signs outside is like putting your wallet on the porch with a sign that says, I won't be home tonight.

Jack Sim

In one of the Esso's on Craigslist, you can see a Gulf sign in the corner too. (I'm not accusing that guy of course - he may be a good guy, but just a possible lead. gotta throw in the disclaimer... lol)

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/clt/4944877127.html

Did the police go to the antique shop yet?

The owner needs to keep pressure on the police to follow up on all leads as investigating theft is low on the priority list for some departments.
Just because some of the signs have been sold doesn't mean they can't be recovered.
The police need to have a chat with the antique shop owner. The owner needs to talk to the investigating officer daily.

...seriously...

Speedracer, the post on craigslist has been deleted.

Wes, yes they went. He is actually a Captain for the Sheriff's Department. They are going back this morning because of a lead I received last night saying that they saw the Dixie and American at the store, but the store owner told the police he never had them when my friend got the Gulf back. The lead I received has pictures of the signs from the antique shop. So it seems pretty shady to me. We'll see what happens, and I'll keep everyone updated as I find new information.

Matt has posted this in the FB group PIcks of the Week,

Link to FB group

I've shared this information on Facebook groups I'm a member of, any of the other SC/GA/NC/TN people out there make sure you share Matt's post within you pages that reach other collectors.


Someone had time and opportunity to steal so many signs. And if they disposed of them locally/regionally as it seems then perhaps there is hope of recovery.

"Putting your signs outside is like putting your wallet on the porch with a sign that says, I won't be home tonight."
Well said. Pumps also. Don't think that bolting them down and/or leaving the guts in them is going to deter thieves. You will be sadly mistaken. Dave

...hopefully, his getting caught lying to the authorities might make him a little more willing to cooperate...

Threaten the owner with prosecution for giving false information and possibly theft by receiving and watch his lips start flapping. The money he made from the sale will not even offset his attorney fees. Dave

The antique shop owner SHOULD have a record of from whom the sign(s) were purchased and certain a receipt to whom they were sold!
I am truly sorry for your loss/this incident. No bad on you for displaying your signs. I know that you will be more wary in the future.
Honest people believe that everyone else is honest as well. MOST people are honest and will not steal. However.......
Dave

Hey maybe the antique shop owner got them real cheap if you know what I mean.....

Note to self: Seems like a repeat of the trailer full of signs being stolen. Seems to me like you guys are going to have to fix this. Good Luck!

Loyd,

My trailer was stolen not because of the signs but because the druggies thought it was full of tools and such they could sell quick for money. All they had to do was defeat the trailer lock and haul it away.

Whoever stole the above load of signs had to target the location, and have some time and a trailer to haul them away.

Two words!
Public hangings.

If you think I'm being to harsh. Come live in the Detroit area and watch the evening news for a month. You'll be sick and tired of this ***** too!!! When is enough, enough?? I'm done with these types! People who think they can infringe on another persons personal freedoms and property. I'm for zero tolerance.

GREAT NEWS EVERYONE! Most of the signs have been recovered except for around 4. The one that stole the signs has been arrested, and the antique store owner has been arrested as well for receiving stolen property. I think the store owner is going to be charged with lying to a police officer too. He said he didn't have the signs, but they checked his house and there the signs were. The Dixie was sold on ebay to someone in Florida, and the police are trying to get in touch with ebay to get the contact info. A few more were also sold on ebay. Thank you all for all of the help through this process. It's nice to see everyone coming together for the common cause! We won!

That's really great news! It doesn't always happen that way, but with todays information superhighway, it doesn't take long to spread the word!

good deal...

...that's awesome...



...seems like they could get a warrant for the antique store owner's email account, given that he lied to the authorities and was caught with the stolen property...if the bonehead STILL doesn't see it would be in his best interest to help the investigation...

That's great news. Now be sure the antique store is named and let people know what kind of business man he is. Plaster it on that Facebook thing.

Awesome news!! So happy to hear this. I would surely imagine it wont be difficult to get the signs back that were sold on Ebay. It may take some time but there is surely a paper trail to where they are!

Man, this is really rare to have a great ending but it is about time that the good guys get a win!

Gave y'all wrong info. The signs were not recovered. It was other stuff like pedal cars and other little stuff. Still be on the look for these signs. The Dixie and American aye the only signs that are being recovered possibly.

Matt,

I wonder if any of the stuff recovered was items I still am missing or if it was just from this robbery?

Since I haven't heard from my Gvl Co. Investigator in months it makes me wonder.

Wow sad story, but a happy ending!

Matt,

Sorry to hear the signs are still missing.

I dont see the Dixie sign on completed ebay sales. Thought you might be able to get the contact info of the buyer yourself but looks like ebay only gives you the first and last letter of the buyers user name, not enough to go on. Too bad, working the ebay customer service is like beating yourself in the head.

...what's the latest on this?

I haven't heard any more other than just a few items recovered but most of the signs still missing.

Hope they recover it all. That Gulf sign that appears to be propped against the wall would have been gone overnight in my area.

I recently purchased a pump near the highway and between making the deal and actually picking it up (February snow) someone stole both Texaco Sky Chief signs off of it.

It really stinks when you are the ebay buyer of these stolen items. You got a great buy! Then they show up and confiscate it. You get your ebay refund but it could take years to buy another.