[CPProt.net] Theft of comics is nothing funny; Spider-Mans taken in $17,000 store haul

[MSN and CPProt list (Ton Cremers)]

Theft of comics is nothing funny

Spider-Mans taken in $17,000 store haul

HANNAH MITCHELL

Staff Writer


Where's Spider-Man when you need him?

He's not at a Hickory comics and hobby shop anymore. A thief broke into Time
Tunnel Comics and Toys on U.S. 70 early Thursday and stole $17,000 worth of
comic books, including pricey Spiderman collectibles.

Among the stolen merchandise was a 1963 book featuring Spider-Man in the
first comic of his own. Value: $4,000, shop proprietors say.

"That is a real big deal," said Eddie Price, manager of the store.

"It's not just important because it's a big comic book. It's important
because Spider-Man is a cultural icon."

Price and his father, Time Tunnel owner Edwin Price Jr., have collected
comic books for some 20 years. They opened the store four years ago.

The thief nabbed many of the Prices' most valuable comic books, taking 1,650
in all. Security video cameras photographed a thief taking the goods in the
space of 2 1/2 minutes.

No money or equipment was taken.

Price thinks someone cased the shop to determine the most valuable items.
There are several ways a thief could unload hot comics, he said, including
online auctions.

"This weekend, one of the largest comic book shows in the Southeast is in
Orlando, Fla., the MegaCon. There will be big buyers there," Price said.
"We've already talked with the people who run MegaCon."

Time Tunnel is offering a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of the thief or thieves.

http://www.charlotte.com/