Alert: Theft/ Fencing of Stolen Leather Wraps--800 pieces!

" About 4 weeks later a cuemaker friend of mine who I had informed about the theft, asked me about having leather wraps split in a phone conversation. He explained that Joe Fiscella, the owner of Triangle Billiards (Retail Pool Table/ Gameroom Store)in Orange, CA (a mile or less from my home) had provided him with 7 different unsplit wraps for him (shown below) to evaluate and offer a price on the entire lot. I immediately informed my friend that those wraps were the ones stolen off my porch. I went to Triangle and saw Joe. I asked about the wraps and was told they were "at another location." I then told Joe the wraps were stolen from me. He then said he didn't have the wraps, they belonged to a 45 year-old woman (or leprechaun, Easter Bunny) who came in his store. He had her phone number in the back room. When he came out of the back room, he said his helpers had "cleaned up" and must have threw the paper away that had her number. "She'll probably call back" (never did)."

This is the part of the story that bothers me!! Obviously (at least to me) this Joe Fiscella has some complicity in the matter and the detective seems to be buying his story.

I do feel badly for you. The whole situation seems effed up.

Gary
 
stolen

jazznpool said:
Unfortunately, a box with approximately 800 unsplit leather wraps was stolen off my porch on Thursday August 23 (retail value in excess of 10K). The package was vastly under-insured and not shipped "signature required" by the shipper. The theft was reported to the Orange, CA police. About 4 weeks later a cuemaker friend of mine who I had informed about the theft, asked me about having leather wraps split in a phone conversation. He explained that Joe Fiscella, the owner of Triangle Billiards (Retail Pool Table/ Gameroom Store)in Orange, CA (a mile or less from my home) had provided him with 7 different unsplit wraps for him (shown below) to evaluate and offer a price on the entire lot. I immediately informed my friend that those wraps were the ones stolen off my porch. I went to Triangle and saw Joe. I asked about the wraps and was told they were "at another location." I then told Joe the wraps were stolen from me. He then said he didn't have the wraps, they belonged to a 45 year-old woman (or leprechaun, Easter Bunny) who came in his store. He had her phone number in the back room. When he came out of the back room, he said his helpers had "cleaned up" and must have threw the paper away that had her number. "She'll probably call back" (never did). I reported this to the Orange police and a detective was assigned (and concluded I was out of luck despite the 7 wraps Joe handed the cuemaker in attempting to strike a deal). In the meantime, I called every billiard related store within 40 miles of me. Nobody else was offered the cue leather. 4 of the wraps (right side of photo) were going to be a new style of "Iguana" wraps for me. It is unique and sold out from the distributor. If I ever trace these wraps back to the source of the fencing or stealing, I'm probably going to go to jail. Any information that leads to the culprits who stole/ sold stolen property will be appreciated. The billiards industry is not that large. Thanks for looking/ listening. Martin
StolenWraps.jpg
Click to expand...

Martin,
very sorry, that stinks...
you never know though...you're well liked and someone may drop a dime.
good luck.
Bill
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
Sorry to hear about this Martin.

You were so close to catching her too. Maybe she will call the pool hall again. Do you know the owner well enuff to know he won't deal with her behind your back?

Good luck, I hope this gets resolved in your favor. I'm sure or at least hopeful that you haven't heard the last from her.

She took them to a pool hall so apparently knew what they were used for.
Click to expand...


Hopefully, that Joe from Triangle isn't involved(although the account from Martin seems to make him suspect). If he isn't involved, then there is a bit of hope. If he is, I assume the wraps get trashed and you never hear about them again.....

It is a horrible mess created by those who prey on others....
 
GBCues said:
" About 4 weeks later a cuemaker friend of mine who I had informed about the theft, asked me about having leather wraps split in a phone conversation. He explained that Joe Fiscella, the owner of Triangle Billiards (Retail Pool Table/ Gameroom Store)in Orange, CA (a mile or less from my home) had provided him with 7 different unsplit wraps for him (shown below) to evaluate and offer a price on the entire lot. I immediately informed my friend that those wraps were the ones stolen off my porch. I went to Triangle and saw Joe. I asked about the wraps and was told they were "at another location." I then told Joe the wraps were stolen from me. He then said he didn't have the wraps, they belonged to a 45 year-old woman (or leprechaun, Easter Bunny) who came in his store. He had her phone number in the back room. When he came out of the back room, he said his helpers had "cleaned up" and must have threw the paper away that had her number. "She'll probably call back" (never did)."

This is the part of the story that bothers me!! Obviously (at least to me) this Joe Fiscella has some complicity in the matter and the detective seems to be buying his story.

I do feel badly for you. The whole situation seems effed up.

Gary
Click to expand...

Ever think about getting the phone records pulled? No need for a subpoena, Joe should be able get them just by asking.
 
Thats a good idea Bryon.

Her number disappears from the back room. Maybe, but she left some samples at the room and they were given out to the maker.

She will be in touch to see if there is any interest from either the hall owner or the maker.

Something seems to be going on behind the scene here. I hope not but something is rotten in Denmark.

The cue maker wouldn't call Martin and ask him about skiving leather if he knew that there was a theft from martin's home.

Somehow some of those wraps will turn up again. And hopefully there will be a lead to her next time.

She will be in touch with the hall owner again unless they are dumped already. Just have to trust him to do the right thing.

There was probably paper work in the box that let her know that they were pool cue wraps. She will be pawning them off to players.

And then her house mysteriously burns to the ground. What a coincidence that would be. Doesn't she know that raw cue wraps exposed to oxygen will spontaneously ignite.
 
Last edited:
Blue Hog ridr said:
Thats a good idea Bryon.

Her number disappears from the back room. Maybe, but she left some samples at the room and they were given out to the maker.

She will be in touch to see if there is any interest from either the hall owner or the maker.

Something seems to be going on behind the scene here. I hope not but something is rotten in Denmark.

The cue maker wouldn't call Martin and ask him about skiving leather if he knew that there was a theft from martin's home.

Somehow some of those wraps will turn up again. And hopefully there will be a lead to her next time.

She will be in touch with the hall owner again unless they are dumped already. Just have to trust him to do the right thing.

There was probably paper work in the box that let her know that they were pool cue wraps. She will be pawning them off to players.

And then her house mysteriously burns to the ground. What a coincidence that would be. Doesn't she know that raw cue wraps exposed to oxygen will spontaneously ignite.
Click to expand...

I've had to let this go for my own sanity and safety. However, if you look at the regular lizard wraps you'll see that 2 are center cuts. There are only about 3-4 of those per 100 wraps or so. They were hand picked out of the lot by someone with some knowledge of pool cues. Joe's son told me the "lady seemed desperate like she'd take 25.00 or 50.00 for the whole box." My take is that I was fed a horse-shyt story from the get go so Joe could cover his arse. I was straightforward but should have set a trap with my cuemaker friend. I am of the opinion that Joe bought the box of 800 wraps and either still has them or has destroyed them. How else could he have hand picked the center cut pieces to give the cuemaker? Beyond the 7 pieces I cannot PROVE he has more. I followed the lawful channels and nothing came of it so better to let it go. Thank God it wasn't the type of loss that would put me out of business!

Regarding the shipper, I know he was on the hook and small claims court would have seen it that way. He knew it too. The only problem is that I woud have had to destroy a relationship I value and make an enemy to prevail for all the dollars. We compromised, shared in the loss, learned and moved on with dignity and our business relationship/ friendship intact.

Thanks everyone, this is over with! Martin
 
Martin,

My brother-in-law has a small plaque in his office. It says, "Sooner or later everyone gets exactly what they deserve!" I sincerely hope that is correct.
 
Guerra Cues said:
Maybe a nice visit from the Amish Mafia to the people that Martin suspects that stole the merchandise would be bring the stuff back...
Click to expand...
That reminds me of an old joke I heard:

What goes clip clop pop, clip clop pop, clip clop pop?

And Amish drive by shooting!
 
jazznpool said:
I've had to let this go for my own sanity and safety. However, if you look at the regular lizard wraps you'll see that 2 are center cuts. There are only about 3-4 of those per 100 wraps or so. They were hand picked out of the lot by someone with some knowledge of pool cues. Joe's son told me the "lady seemed desperate like she'd take 25.00 or 50.00 for the whole box." My take is that I was fed a horse-shyt story from the get go so Joe could cover his arse. I was straightforward but should have set a trap with my cuemaker friend. I am of the opinion that Joe bought the box of 800 wraps and either still has them or has destroyed them. How else could he have hand picked the center cut pieces to give the cuemaker? Beyond the 7 pieces I cannot PROVE he has more. I followed the lawful channels and nothing came of it so better to let it go. Thank God it wasn't the type of loss that would put me out of business!

Regarding the shipper, I know he was on the hook and small claims court would have seen it that way. He knew it too. The only problem is that I woud have had to destroy a relationship I value and make an enemy to prevail for all the dollars. We compromised, shared in the loss, learned and moved on with dignity and our business relationship/ friendship intact.

Thanks everyone, this is over with! Martin
Click to expand...

Well if he picked through them he probably grabbed one of each (or that lady did).

I think you're doing the best thing. Acknowledge and move on. I'm sure if any of us see them you'll hear about it. But, may as well figure its a loss and forget about it.
 
Martin is a very cool guy...

If this had happened to me I would really have come un-glued.
It's a little character flaw I have.
Martin is a very cool guy handling the whole matter as he did.
Yes, I probably would have ....never mind.
Martin, keep on doing the right thing. Good job.

Robin Snyder < Usually pretty cool but really doesn't like thieves....grrrrrrr!
 
I have been around a long time, most think to long.

Here is my take on things. A lady thief that only wants $25.00 to $50.00 for a box of leather is not going to leave samples and a phone number.

A guy in an industry related field with any ethics is either going to call the Police straight out or give her the $25.00 - $50.00, than call the Police as he knows the true owner will give him at least the $25.00 - $50.00 back. I mean bottom line if it were close to true the guy would still know he was fencing stolen goods.

Please don't say he had no idea, he is not in the lumber business and did not call an arts and crafts place that might want leather, he is in the Pool industry and called a cue maker and said there was much more.

My street my rules, first day his new name is Limpy, next day its Gimpy and after that he will only get out of a wheel chair if a miricle occurs.

His son? Naw, he won't be pushing the wheel chair, he will be rolling along next to Dad.

Based on the worth, Felony. Minumum charges, Conspiracy, soliciting a crimanal aid and possesion of stolen goods. I would add or subtract 10 years off the Sentance for minumum charges of stupidity.

You go to the weakest link and say, you are not going to be hurt, no charges will be filed against you, you have 2 minutes. :smile:
 
TomHay said:
My street my rules, first day his new name is Limpy, next day its Gimpy and after that he will only get out of a wheel chair if a miricle occurs.

His son? Naw, he won't be pushing the wheel chair, he will be rolling along next to Dad.
Click to expand...

I'm glad I always pay for my orders right away.
 
TomHay said:
My street my rules, first day his new name is Limpy, next day its Gimpy and after that he will only get out of a wheel chair if a miricle occurs.

You go to the weakest link and say, you are not going to be hurt, no charges will be filed against you, you have 2 minutes. :smile:
Click to expand...

Well spoken.
See Tom, I agree 110% but, trust me on this one, there are certain ,um, down-sides. That's it, down-sides.

Having said that, I'm old now, but I would still love to roll with that punk thief. Grrrrrr.

Robin Snyder
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top