Well this sucks. Rare-vinyl thieving couple in Chicago area.

JohnVF

JohnVF

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We apparently have a couple going around record stores in Chicago stealing rare vinyl and boxed sets. One distracts the employees the other walks out with a stack of records. I mean, this is a city rife with retail theft on kind of an insane scale but this is so targeted, random, and hits close to home as I've been to all of these stores except the one specializing in metal. None of them are making bank (ok maybe Reckless) and for a few it could really affect whether they stay open or not, like Licorice Pizza in suburban Highland Park. There's a video from that one clearly showing the girl who is walking out with records. Though "20-something goth girl" isn't exactly specific enough in this town. THOUGH...the fact that they hit Highland Park suggests to me they're connected to it, and its clear security footage so hopefully they're going to get caught. Everybody here knows somebody who knows somebody. The stores are banding together to try to control the resale of the stolen goods. What a bunch of BS.

blockclubchicago.org

Thieves Swiping Rare Vinyl From Chicago Record Shops

The couple behind the break-ins took more than $10,000 in rare vinyl from one shop. Shop owners are banding together to keep an eye out for people trying to sell these records.
blockclubchicago.org blockclubchicago.org
 
It's like the old joke about the accordion player. "Did you hear about the accordionist who parked his car in a tough neighborhood? He left the instrument in the back seat concealed under some newspapers. When he returned, his heart sank at the sight of a smashed rear window. Sure enough, his worst fears had been realized. Some fiend had left him another accordion."

I didn't read the story all that closely but maybe that's what happened? They smashed the window of the store one night and left another stack of Chinese Metal in the bins.
 
I dunno, after a couple of weeks in Shanghai, I was convinced that everything I loved about 90s indie was alive in Chinese rock. Carsick Cars, Default, Dear Eloise, Hiperson (a friend tells me that these are bad translations, but I don't know the characters AT ALL). I could probably be convinced to spend a few bucks on Chinese metal. Not that I'm condoning smash-and-grab or any other heists. :)
 
I shouldn't joke about it though. Our area has a band of Chilean thieves breaking into high-end homes and stealing valuables, or even entire safes. They've mostly been out in Oakland County (Bloomfield, etc.) but there was a break-in on our side of town just recently. Given how some of the homes on the lake here are a little secluded, I won't be surprised if I hear of a break-in in our city.

Times are desperate. These local thieves are into high-dollar stuff but I think the smaller-scale theft (like the records) is only going to get worse.
 
Pretty brave when they know (or should know) they are being recorded on camera.

Course if they're dumb enough to do it in the first place...
 
It's been a while, but Reckless in Lakeview on Broadway always had empty covers in the bins, which I thought sucked as you had to go to the counter to vet the LP. I think I ran into that. I don't recall much new vinyl but that was at least 5 years ago.
 
In the thrifts around here a few years ago there was a spate of people stealing LPs and leaving the covers. I guess they were slipping several LPs into one sleeve? Silliness at the thrift prices of that time, but I guess people just enjoy being bad and getting away with it.
 
Andyman said:
It's been a while, but Reckless in Lakeview on Broadway always had empty covers in the bins, which I thought sucked as you had to go to the counter to vet the LP. I think I ran into that. I don't recall much new vinyl but that was at least 5 years ago.
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Encore used to have all of their CDs behind the counter. I don't know if they kept up that practice after Peter sold the business, and they have also moved since I visited them last.
 
prime minister said:
It brings me no joy to say it, but I'd be willing to bet that the record thieves will pay no price for their transgressions.
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I think they'll get caught and then get maybe a slap on the wrist, though they're likely to get more if the metal scene figures them out (not that they're violent but they're close-knit and from what I've seen the scene is loyal and protects its own).
 
Purchased a LP from an European dealer off Disc Cogs. They contacted me saying the LP is missing along with others due to theft. Got the feeling they do not know the extent of what is missing.

My collection is visible at night when my lights are on. Guess closing the curtains is my new agenda.
 
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