Valuable items stolen from world’s largest Star Wars collection

Steve Sansweet, Rancho Obi-Wan President and CEO, has put out an appeal for information relating to thefts from his collection of Star Wars memorabilia.

Media outlets around the world are picking up on a bit of toy related news that has rocked the Star Wars collecting community. Philip Wise, owner of the established Star Wars websites Rebelscum and TheForce.net recently reported the theft of his prototype Rocket-Firing Boba Fett action figure, one of the holy grails of Star Wars action figure collecting. Thankfully, he was able to recover the item.

In discovering the theft, Wise contacted fellow super-collector Steve Sansweet acting on information about other items the alleged thief had sold on to fellow collectors. Sansweet has now put out an appeal, as over one hundred valuable items have been stolen from the non-profit Rancho Obi-Wan, a museum that houses the world’s largest collection of Star Wars memorabilia. Anyone with information is asked to e-mail [email protected].

The alleged perpetrator, Carl Cunningham, has been arrested and posted bail – what has made it particularly difficult for the collecting community is that Wise and Sansweet, among others, considered Cunningham a friend.

The items stolen are predominantly vintage action figures. Rancho Obi-Wan covers all manner of Star Wars memorabilia, making it an important resource and archive for Star Wars fans and collectors. The LEGO Star Wars section includes rare promotional items, event exclusives and store displays.