Comic books fans worldwide went on alert this week when a Florida collector sent out a plea for help in tracking down comic books worth more than $1 million that were stolen from his storage unit in Boca Raton, Florida. Randy Lawrence, 58, wrote on social media that when he inspected his air-conditioned storage unit on Jan. 8, he noticed that more than 400 issues, including early editions of Batman and Detective Comics from the 1930s and 1940s were missing. Lawrence said he has been collecting comic books since he was 6 years old. “The collection was my nest egg,” he said. Police have already made one arrest in Arizona related to the heist and Lawrence said he appreciates the response from the comic book community, which he called “very tight.” For more on the popularity of comic book collecting, don’t miss our March Kovels On Antiques & Collectibles newsletter, which details the “why” and the “how” of comic book collecting. If you are not a print subscriber, subscribe or request a free issue. Kovels On Antiques & Collectibles (digital edition) comes with any Kovels.com premium subscriptions.
Photo: WPEC / Source: www.wlos.com
The idea of storing valuables in a place like this is beyond belief. Any storage facility requires a renter to provide insurance. Although the facility is air conditioned there’s still the possibility of water damage from moisture.
Why weren’t the valuables stored in a safety deposit box? That’s where a smart person would store valuables like this.