A Note from Steve Sansweet:
Dear fellow Star Wars fans and collectors,
I need to share some distressing news with you because I need your help.
In February we at Rancho Obi-Wan found out that we had been the victim of a major theft that surreptitiously took place over many months in late 2015 through 2016.
There were more than 100 valuable items stolen, the majority of them vintage U.S. and foreign carded action figures, many of them rare and important pieces. Most have either been resold or professionally appraised for a total of more than $200,000.
The theft came to light after Philip Wise, a good friend, major collector and owner of several Star Wars websites, posted news of the theft of his rare prototype rocket-firing Boba Fett action figure from his Texas warehouse. Zach Tann, a respected toy dealer and collector in Southern California, immediately notified Philip that he had purchased that figure from Carl Edward Cunningham, 45, a well-known Star Wars collector and R2-D2 builder from Marietta, Georgia.
Tann further told Philip that he previously had bought many other rare Star Wars collectibles from Carl and sent a detailed list. Philip said that he quickly concluded by the quantity and quality of items that they had likely been stolen from my collection here in Petaluma, California.
Tann is working closely with us and authorities to help recover and return as many of the stolen collectibles as possible. Without Zach Tann’s call to Philip, which came despite great potential personal financial exposure to himself, we might still not know of the theft or its extent.
Carl surrendered on an arrest warrant from the Sonoma County, California Sheriff’s Department at the end of March and was charged with felony grand theft. He is currently free on bail with additional hearings in the case scheduled.
I have known Carl for many years, considered him a good and trusted friend, and played host to him at my home numerous times. I, and the staff at Rancho Obi-Wan, are devastated that he is the alleged perpetrator of the thefts. Not only have important items been stolen from the collection, but also our time, energy and ability to trust unconditionally have taken a blow.
If you have any information about Carl Cunningham’s activities or items that he has sold please write to tips@ranchoobiwan.org. If you think you may have purchased a stolen item, please be patient while we work through this process. It is our goal to resolve this situation as quickly as possible and to continue to use the collection at Rancho Obi-Wan to “Inspire through the Force” despite the destruction caused by one person.
Thank you for your help,
Steve Sansweet
Rancho Obi-Wan
This is a LIST OF ITEMS that hasn’t been accounted for. If you bought any of these, especially on eBay (user name: winterceltic) or through the Rebelscum.com forum in the last year from Carl Cunningham, please let us know at tips@ranchoobiwan.org.
Harbert 12-Back C-3PO
Kenner 12-Back Han Solo (Large Head)
Kenner 20-back Jawa
Kenner 20-Back Death Squad Commander
Kenner 21-back Hammerhead
Kenner 21-Back Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot
Kenner 21-back R5-D4 SW card
Kenner 31-back R2-D2
Kenner 41-Back Stormtrooper
Kenner 41-Back-A Darth Vader
Kenner 47-back Luke Skywalker (Bespin) Brown hair
Kenner POTF Han Trench AFA 75+Y #11842094
Kenner POTF Ben Kenobi AFA 85Y #11190100
Kenner POTF Darth Vader AFA 85Y #11667777
Kenner POTF Chewbaccav
Kenner Diecast Cloud Car Pilot
Kenner Diecast X-Wing
Kenner Canada Ewoks King Gorneesh AFA 75+ #17591428
Kenner Canada Ewoks Canadian Lady Urgah
Meccano 20-Back Jawa AFA 70Y #11973891
Palitoy 12-Back-B Death Squad Commander
Palitoy 12-Back Jawa (cloth cape)
Palitoy 12-Back-A Sand People
Palitoy 12-Back-B R2-D2 AFA 75 #14754625
Palitoy 12-Back-A C-3PO AFA 85 #11805509
Palitoy 12-Back-B Princess Leia AFA 80 #11810768
Palitoy 12-Back-B Stormtrooper AFA 85 #11860712
Palitoy 12-Back-A Han Solo AFA 85 #12889727
Palitoy 12-Back-B Darth Vader AFA 85 #11696213
Palitoy 20-Back Death Star Droid AFA 85 #19616463
Palitoy 20-Back Hammerhead AFA 85 #12519045
Palitoy 30-Back-A Hoth Trooper AFA 85 #11584683
Palitoy 65-back R2-D2 with Sensorscope
Palitoy Tri-Logo Imperial Dignitary AFA 75+ #19588540
Palitoy Tri-Logo Amanaman
Palitoy Tri-Logo Hammerhead
Palitoy Tri-Logo Luke Skywaker (brown hair)
Palitoy Tri-Logo Princess Leia Organa
Palitoy Tri-Logo Yak Face
Palitoy Diecast Tie Fighter
Takara Sticker 12-Back-B Ben Kenobi
Toltoys Death Star Spherical Cardboard Playset with Palitoy innards
LEGO Millenium Falcon #10179
LEGO Super Star Destroyer #10221
LEGO Rebel Snowspeeder #10129
LEGO Imperial Shuttle #10212
Goodbye party Gooney watch
Goodbye party Gooney yellow mug
Goodbye party Gooney hat
Multi-color K tie tac
Terminator Gooney mug
Raiders slide
Gooney hats x 4
Star Wars blue Fall flyer
Rancho Obi-Wan, Inc. is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation whose specific purpose is to serve the public through the collection, conservation, exhibition and interpretation of Star Wars memorabilia and artifacts, using the collection to provide meaningful educational, aesthetic, intellectual and cultural experiences for a wide array of audiences and to carry out other charitable and educational activities associated with this goal. Funds raised are used for insurance, utilities, professional services, maintenance on the buildings, and protection and preservation of the collection. None is used to acquire collectibles. Monies raised also enable Rancho Obi-Wan to perform public outreach to schools and other charitable organizations and to support community programs. get more information about Rancho Obi-Wan at their official website right here.