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In September 2003, Ron & Peggy Yuhas hosted a swap meet on their Helena, Montana, compound. Shortly thereafter, while Ron & Peggy were away from their home following up on an insulator collection sale offer, that would turn out later to be bait set by the thief, someone stole Ron’s nationally renown power insulator collection and Peggy’s specialty insulator collection. Almost immediately, word of the theft went out to the national community of collectors effectively eliminating the possibility that the thief would be able to fence the stolen insulators.
Reprinted with permission, is the August 20, 2005, update from Ron Yuhas:
I am sending this information to the ... membership because I believe there is a real danger to insulator collectors from individuals whose only motive is to profit from the theft of collections. In my case I am providing information for your use that the local Deputy County Attorney has advised me is legal public information.
Earlier this month Alvin Matthews plead guilty to misdemeanor theft and was sentenced to 6 months probation ... . The charges were reduced from felony charges because of the return of most of the collection. Alvin was charged with possession of stolen property after a search warrant was served on his house in Kalispell, MT, and approximately 30 of the insulators stolen from my house were recovered. He has since changed his address to Columbia Falls, MT.
There are still 11 insulators that were stolen not recovered. Of these 11 there is only one that I feel cannot be replaced over time. It is a CD 288 Mershon in emerald green color. I would appreciate any help in locating it, and would pay a reward for its return.
Thanks,
Ron Yuhas
Here is the list, confirmed by Ron in February, 2007, of the 10 pieces not yet recovered:
- CD288 R D Mershon Emerald Green (Reward Offered)
- CD241.2 Hemingray 24 Hemi Blue
- CD251 NEGM Co Dark Yellow Green
- CD288 Fred M Locke (Pat Dates) Aqua
- CD288 Fred M Locke No 18 Aqua
- CD267.5 NEGM Co Dark Yellow Green
- CD285 No Name Dark Yellow Green
- CD178 Santa Ana Very Dark Olive
- CD281 Hemingray Hemi Blue
- CD263 Columbia (wide ear) Green Aqua
If you have, or you know of anyone whom you suspect may have any information that might be helpful in recovering any of these pieces, please contact me immediately. Your anonymity is guaranteed.
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