Al Crise, many of you might know him, has been one of the most generous and unselfish people I have ever met, in or out of fly fishing. So it was especially hard to hear that some lowlife had stolen his equipment. Read about it here and here

I am asking that you each keep an eye out for any of this gear that pop up for sale, especially from some person who does not seem to "fit" but also if you see such a sale on eBay etc.

Thank you so much.

A

Is this becoming a problem? I didn't think flyfishing gear wa that attractive to thieves because I didn't figure they knew what it was worth.

I had 7 rods (Sage, Orvis, TFO) and numerous reels and spools (Orvis, Bauer, etc.) stolen from my truck a couple of months ago. Insurance covered it and I am replacing my stuff.

I hate to hear this has happened to someone else. Made me sick when it happened to me. The equipment was worth quite a bit of money, but the sentimental value of your fishing gear, especially when a lot of it was given to you as gifts, is much higher.

Anyway, maybe some of this stuff will turn up, but I kind of doubt it. I called every single pawn shop around here to no avail.

Just heard from Al that he called around, hit a pawn shop that had the stuff. He has recovered the gear and the perps are going to do some time

Redfish76...couldn't agree more and guns are the same way to me. You can replace them but you can't ever get that same value. It just isn't the same.

I hope the judge throws the book at them! May they awake in jail with a burley "Prince Nymph" named Bubba as their cellmates.
Don't let me catch a thief, period.

Howdy Gang,
Thanks for the support. I had to do the tracking myself. I came up with My reels and the line that was on them for the Pawn amount. The Dumb kids got $75.00 for the 14 reels and lines. Sill missing 12 fly lines on Cassettes and extra spools for my reels.
I did get back my Sage 3100, Christmas from the wife, Gold reel I use on my canes. 2-STH reddingtons, 2 Fly Logics. Okuma, Orvis, Martin mulitplyer. Auora, and seveal other reels. But right now the police are holding them for evendance. I will be pressing charges. Lucky guys most likely put it up their nose anyway.
Young and dumb you better be tough.

ol Al

Glad to hear at least some of your gear was recovered and the perps will pay! Thanks for letting us know about this, always need a little wake up call in case I slip into a trusting moment. Most of my equipment has memories attached and I understand how awful it is to lose your favorite rod/reel, etc. to such an awful experience.

A few years ago when I was a detective with the Austin Police Department, a low life stole a couple of thousand dollars in fishing gear from my porch. I located it a couple of weeks later and caught the perp. When it went to trial, the DA called me and said he was offering a plea bargain and asked if it was good enough. I said "No, I'd like to see them face more time". He said "Ok" and got them to plea to more time. Many times, the DA and County Attorney will call the victim before the case is settled. I hope they do that this time and give the perp some serious time. Al is a great guy and the bad guy deserves a good amount of time behind bars!

Wait, you had to pay the pawn shop for your gear?
That's not right.
I had a jackhammer stolen several years ago and found it in a pawn shop, I showed the guy my receipt and serial numbers I had and he refused to give it to me. So I began calling the police and he said if i didn't make the call I could have it.

"Receiving Stolen Property" is a crime.

I know there are laws that pawn shops have to follow to be sure they are not buying stolen property, I'd suggest doing some research and making that pawn shop refund your money.

Pawn Shops that buy stolen property are as low as the theives imo.

Congratulations on the recovery!

Truth is these guys won't get enough time, and statistics say they'll do it again.

*Edit*
For future reference, post stuff like this in the "Classified" section as well. There are buyers and sellers from all over TX in there that might be able to help.

I think I might have tried to cut a deal with the cops. Not press charges....but have the cops turn the guys loose somewhere remote and not tell anyone but me where they are going to drop them off.

Bye the way....I"m no lawyer, but you could have at the very least a civil case against the pawnshop. You could sue them for "conversion".

I am sure wondering how that exchange went with the pawnshop owner when he was confronted with the reality that the stuff was stolen.

You can't tell me that he didn't know the stuff was stolen.

Al,Great to here you got your gear back.I agree throw the book at them.