I do not go to the Niagara Hobby Store too often but my wife and I were there today to get a few things. I noticed going into the store that 2 sets of doors had plywood instead of glass and then once inside noted that a display case with high end HO stuff was broken!

I still had not put 2 and 2 together when I walked up to the checkout counter to pay for my $50 of stuff. My wife noticed that the clerk was "not pleasant or friendly" to the point of no greetings,thank you etc when another customer asked what happened to the glass. He said "break in this weekend." I then asked if things were taken. His one word answer "yes!"

The purpose of this entry is to alert others of you in Western NY. Perhaps someone close to the owners can find out what happened so a posting can be made and perhaps catch the bums! As I said I am not a big customer there and it was obvious they did not want to talk to me but if you have more of an inside track maybe we can help the store.

This is a shame. They are really helpful. It's got to be tough with brick and mortar stores trying to compete with the internet and high insurance, etc. I have daydreamed of owning a hobby store and this type of stuff kills it. I hope they did not lose too much. I have not been there in awhile because of finances. I'll try and go there this weekend and see what's up. It's tough to ask when someone's at a loss like this. Maybe the stuff will turn up here and we can help. I believe at least one worker posts here once in awhile. They have a lot of equipment to lose if the thiefs had the time. Joe

A couple of years ago there was a break in at the Kenan Arena in Lockport during the spring train show. Even though there was much high end O gauge and other equipment, pretty much only HO was taken. That turned out to be the nail in the coffin for the Lockport show, one of my favorites.

Pete

What a shame. Niagara Hobby is a very nice, clean store in a relatively problem-free industrial/retail area of Buffalo (Cheektowaga).

That's quite a high traffic area though. I believe that Walden Ave. and Union Rd. is one of the (if not the) busiest intersections in New York State. With Interstate 90 access right around the corner, it's easy to see how that could be an easy target for low lifes to access a quick and clean get-a-way.

I hope that Cheektowaga's Finest catches these perps.

I was there this afternoon and wondered about the boarded up doors. Everyone seemed a litle subdued but I didn't ask about it. Thanks for the news. Its a shame that this happened.

Norton-I always wondered why the Lockport show disappeared.

I hope they accidently try to sell the loot at a private meet so we can lock the doors and dispense some immediate justice. More than likely they are low lives who need to sell these for drug money or something. Keep your eyes open boys...I doubt they will hold on to the stuff for very long. Hopefully the owner will advise us what to be looking for. BigRail

I was there on Saturday to get some paint for some scenery work. I'm eyeing up what to buy for my birthday. They emailed me a coupon for 20% off one item on your birthday. My last coupon got me a Lionel NYC Ten Wheeler for $520 + tax. It's a great place, they support all local scouting efforts and promote and donate stuff at almost every local show even though those shows potentially pull money out of the market which could be spent there. John, the former owner, (now deseased), practically rolled out the red carpet for me when I stopped in wearing my military uniform on the way home from guard drills. His son, John also, learned from his dad and carries on in the same tradition. If you come to Buffalo, stop in and throw them a little business. Their O Gauge train inventory is not what it used to be, but if you look hard enough you will find something you like. I hope all is well for them.

Unless I have my shops mixed up, I am surprised that nobody mentioned the fact that Niagara Hobby is a full line hobby shop, with something for just about anybody with a hobby. When we are in Buffalo, it's one of the favorite shops for my wife and kids because there is so much non-train stuff too.

Kval Hobbies is also a must visit because the folks running it are so nice. At last visit, this shop was 100 percent trains (mostly HO).

Hopefully the owners will learn and add new security measures such as Cameras and video survalence, Deadbolts and bars across backroom windows as a few suggestions.

Hope they catch the low lifes.

Hokk....even if they catch the low life, which I doubt, they will most likely be out on the street stealing again before you can finish your breakfast. Most law enforcement agencies have priorities because they say they are cut too thin to take care of property crimes.

We can't hold criminals accountable any more, punishment is light or non existant and lawyers get theif's off on technacalities. It seem that this is the way of life now. Sad isn't it. IMHO.

Tex

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TexSpecial,

Tex Wrote -

quote:

Most law enforcement agencies have priorities because they say they are cut too think to take care of property crimes

He's 100% correct. I had some power tools and fishing rods stolen ( about $2500.00 worth) and my power miter saw showed up in a local pawn shop. I notified the police and they didn't do a thing about it since I'd already filed a claim with my insurance company and received payment less my deduction. Property crimes are the least of their concern at least in a large urban area.

I don't know what kind of security Niagara Hobby had. Hope they beef it up now. I saw no evidence of anything amiss in the O gauge area but definitely a broken display case of their high end HO. I recall that was the object of thieves at K Val a few years ago.

If anyone connected to Niagara Hobby could get a list posted here at least their would be a few more folks looking out for the stuff. On an off topic note my neighbor told me about a break in at the family cabin a few years ago. Really cleaned out the place including a refrigerator that needed ANNUAL charging! They notified everyone they could including a few appliance repair places. Sure enough the crooks asked for a recharging of the specific brand/model refrigerator. The gang was broken up and a lot of robberies were solved.

Robert, your mention of K-Val and HO brings to mind the fact that the Buffalo Model RR Club was broken into a few years ago and only HO equipment was taken.
Niagara Hobby, K-Val, Kenan Arena, and the Buffalo Model RR Club, all involved HO despite the fact that other equipment was available. Makes you wonder if the same people are doing this.

Pete

Norton,you mentioned the Kenan Center robbery in your first post here. I wondered why there no shows in recent years. Outside of the big Syracuse show,the Lockport show was my favorite. I wonder if there is any link to these. Sure would like to see them solved.