Hero Restoration, Anyone know the latest? 24 24

[awakeintheashes]

On 2/29/2024 at 11:20 PM, Sauce Dog said:

His store, Cool Stuff, was apparently robbed back in January (I only found out recently though) and customer books were stolen (which ones and how many I do not know). He told me he filed a police report and shared security footage with me - at which point I NOPED right out of the conversation as it is now grand larceny and I am not getting involved in this growing mess further.

I didn't post anything explicit about it since I was waiting for him to make an announcement or whatever, but that doesn't seem to be happening and so yeah, I guess might as well confirm it since a few other people also know at this point. 

A real life Breaking Bad/Comic Book Men crossover. Sad.

[mrwoogieman]

It’s a sad commentary that victims feel like they have a better chance of getting their property back by sitting passively and not antagonizing the thief than by calling the authorities. 
 

Greater than zero wins over zero. 
 

 

[mattn792]

@Sauce Dog are you able to share which police department the “theft” was reported to?  Because Mike’s victims should make a phone call to report which of their books he had at that time, or are confirmed sold on eBay.  While there’s certainly a not zero chance that he just got drunk one night and told the wrong person how much “cool stuff” he has and where to find it, there’s also a very not zero chance that he’s telling the PD that customer books he previously sold on eBay were stolen that night.

[shadroch]

I  think you should be filing your complaint with the District Attorney or the state Attorney General, not the local police.

[Kripsys99]

On 3/1/2024 at 9:46 AM, shadroch said:

I  think you should be filing your complaint with the District Attorney or the state Attorney General, not the local police.

Why?

[shadroch]

Because police don't prosecute people.

[mattn792]

On 3/1/2024 at 9:07 AM, shadroch said:

Because police don't prosecute people.

FFS, who do you think does all the investigation prior to any prosecution?  Stop watching Law & Order.

[shadroch]

A  Google search on where to report fraud in Oregon will give you the Attorney General's fraud hotline number and a bullet point that says most fraud in Oregon is handled by the Attorney General's Office. It even links you to forms you can fill out remotely.

[KCOComics]

On 3/1/2024 at 10:37 AM, shadroch said:

A  Google search on where to report fraud in Oregon will give you the Attorney General's fraud hotline number and a bullet point that says most fraud in Oregon is handled by the Attorney General's Office. It even links you to forms you can fill out remotely.

Honestly,  people should be doing both. Police,  the attorney General, the FBI, their uncle who knows a state senator in Oregon, lawyers... 

This is a time for action and justice needs to be served. 

[Neo "The One"]

So Mike has not responded to me at all after several emails, calls and Texts.  The book that was sold on ebay looks strikingly similar to the book I sent him, and I love the fact that he says, "I forget who signed it" in the description.  To me this seems like it is now a type of Pyramid scheme, where he (possibly) sends back books to some people, and sells others to keep this going.  

[Neo "The One"]

Guess I should post this too.  I oringinally sent my ASM 129 to the New Jersey office, and then noticed it was re-routed to Oregon.
The nonsense about Mike's store getting robbed and the books he was supossed to be working on getting stolen is just that NONSENSE.

1) Never responded to any of my emails or calls for the past 6+ months.

2) Should have had insurance

3) Should have never had the books in his "Store" to begin with

4) Should have had a safe.

5) Should have communicated that the books were stolen to the customers (or communicated ANYTHING for that matter)

Thank you for your submission to Hero Restoration. Your invoice number is HRC3286, please provide this number in any emails or phone calls to us so that we can better assist you.   Please print out a copy of the below submission details and include it with your comics when shipping them to us.  Mail your order to one of the following addresses based on HRC Tier to the two options below. Please be sure to ship to the right location based on TIER, not proximity. Drop of submission do not apply.   Send Time Travel, and "None" to: Hero Restoration 55 Walker RD Unit 184 Lebanon OR 97355-0184   Send  Captain's Chair, Slipstream and Warp Speed to: Hero Restoration Vernon Colonial Plaza P.O Box 462 McAfee NJ 07428-462

Invoice # HRC3286 # of items 1 Name Gary Hanson Email   How did you hear about us? Returning Client Phone Number   Shipping Address Country: United States Billing Address   Domestic Shipping $ 26 Pressing Tier Slipstream - 6 weeks Value Limit $3000 Ship to CGC HRC Account No Slabs Accepted Terms and Conditions Accepted Your Items Type Title Issue # Version Quantity Publisher Year Value Notes Comic Amazing Spider-Man 129   1 Marvel 1974 3000 "Slab approved by Jaclyn. Book graded by CGC within the last 12 months." Please make sure this goes directly to CGC as to receive the yellow, "Signature Series" label, and does not get a notation "Name written in Marker!"  Thanks! Gary Hi Gary!   Your books are on their way through the pressing process.  If you want to check the status and see what we are currently working on, you can find the information on our website.   This is our current status update: It can also be found on our website, here: https://herorestorationcomics.com/prices/   The submissions classified in the chart above are almost complete. We will be updating the status chart again in a few weeks.   Thank you for your patience, as our Master Jedi is a perfectionist! Your books will be in better shape than you ever could have imagined!   Cheers,       Jaclyn Kearney CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER East Coast Operations Hero Restoration     www.herorestorationcomics.com 541-240-2931

[L'Angelo Misterioso]

I'm also with the theory that Mike was behind the Cool Stuff robbery 🤷‍♂️

[B2D327]

On 3/1/2024 at 12:35 AM, Buzzetta said:

 

On 3/1/2024 at 1:43 AM, Kripsys99 said:

 or property to go after, 

Apparently, he owns a "van down by the river". 

[revat]

I have no skin in the game, and I am most certainly not a lawyer (or cop), BUT if had books or money outstanding regarding this situation, I would contact all the police/law enforcement ASAP (and probably a lawyer, but I get that costs money), for the following reasons:

1. Even if the specific law enforcement you contact first isn't exactly the right party, they can direct you to the right party, and even if you file complaints with multiple parties you can usually give your case number for your case that other law enforcement agencies assign, so there can be some sort of coordination if that ever becomes an issue.

2.  It gets your name and issue and complaint info on a legal/official/government report, and hopefully can get your documents like invoices emails entered into the government system in the event that ANY legal, criminal, civil, other proceedings move forward.

3.  This situation is terrible, and will almost certainly end in either the government or a government appointed trustee distributing the assets (whether bankruptcy, death, government seizure).  If you have filed something with the government, that probably (I couldn't say how much) increases the chances that you get your books back or some sort of compensation.

4.  If you got your books back, you should still file a complaint for damage done to your books and the money you are still out, because that lets law enforcement know how many folks he's hurting, reinforces that he needs to be investigated.  This will help other people who are still waiting. I don't know what the threshold is, but if a local sherriff's dept (and DA's office, do both) got 40 complaints about one dude in their county scamming folks, that's not nothing.  Also increases your chances of getting something back in the event of court-ordered distribution of assets.

5.  In later legal proceedings, you might need to give a statement about "Why you didn't contact law enforcement earlier when you suspected criminal activity?".  Also potential issues of statutes of limitations.

6.  In the event that an arrest is made, it would certainly expedite getting notified if your books are found by police.  

7.  It wouldn't be surprising if some of these comics are found when other local criminals are getting arrested/searched, especially if this guy seems to have at least some association with other criminal elements.  

 

I know its appealing to think that since some folks might have gotten their books back that yours might be next if you give him more time, but I can assure you that is what the bad guy wants you to think.

 

Also, the arguments about what/when he decided to be a criminal or his past intentions are largely moot and really only serve to divide.  Focus on resolution and/or justice.

My two cents, have a nice day.

 

 

Edited March 1 by revat

[Sauce Dog]

On 3/1/2024 at 9:35 AM, mattn792 said:

@Sauce Dog are you able to share which police department the “theft” was reported to?  Because Mike’s victims should make a phone call to report which of their books he had at that time, or are confirmed sold on eBay.  While there’s certainly a not zero chance that he just got drunk one night and told the wrong person how much “cool stuff” he has and where to find it, there’s also a very not zero chance that he’s telling the PD that customer books he previously sold on eBay were stolen that night.

Mike only told me that he filed a police report. Whether that is true or false i have no idea, nor do i know anything else other than who the suspect is.

[flchris]

Reminds me of someone evading after a hit-and-run and then claiming the car was stolen during the incident after they’re found.

[Kripsys99]

On 3/2/2024 at 9:15 AM, flchris said:

Reminds me of someone evading after a hit-and-run and then claiming the car was stolen during the incident after they’re found.

Very true. And unfortunately, this development will complicate things considerably for those who waited to report this matter to police, and don't have significant evidence that Mike, for example, had already sold their book on eBay prior to the alleged "break-in" to his business. I could see Mike escaping criminal culpability regarding outstanding books simply by stating that the books in question were stolen during the "break-in". And I've already made my thoughts clear about the likely ineffectiveness of any potential civil action. This is a prime example of why you don't negotiate with terrorists (or in this case thieves). Unfortunately, I think a lot of people will be regretting not having reached out to law enforcement earlier. At this point, not only will they not get their money or their books back - they may also see the person who took those things evade responsibility for his actions. Hope is not a plan, and simply hoping to get one's books back was never a plan either. I would still be reaching out to law enforcement regardless.

[shadroch]

It should be easy enough to identify his landlord.  From there you should be able to get the name of his insurance company. They'd love to hear about suspected insurance fraud if he filed a claim. 

Edited March 3 by shadroch

[Domo Arigato]

On 2/29/2024 at 10:20 PM, Sauce Dog said:

His store, Cool Stuff, was apparently robbed back in January (I only found out recently though) and customer books were stolen (which ones and how many I do not know). He told me he filed a police report and shared security footage with me...

Did you happen to spot either of these two in the security footage?

 

[Rockiwan]

Has anyone gotten any submissions back in the last month? I am also waiting. I am giving up hope. Mike if you are reading this please may I have hrc 2709 hrc 2890 returned? I hold no ill will towards anyone. I just want my items returned. Thank you.