The info about the truck is somewhat vague. Some reports say it was a Sweetwater truck which implies it might be a van with Sweetwater emblazoned on the side which would attract attention. None of the reports say where the truck was coming from only that it was bound for Sweetwater. Did Sweetwater send one of their vans to Nashville to pick up the guitars? If so, there may not have been a lot of other guitars on board so these particular guitars were not necessarily targeted. Where was the driver when this happened and why was the truck unattended long enough for the theft to take place? Was he just getting gas or was in the restaurant or taking a shower?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Sweetwater reports major theft
- Thread starter 40Hz
- Start date
Freakonomics has a great discussion of the question, "If drug dealing is such a profitable business, why do so many dealers live at home with their mothers?"
As it turns out, crime is one of those things where a select few stand to make immense profit, if you ignore all the risks they are taking. Meanwhile, the vast majority of criminals aren't very successful, but they get drawn in by the allure of easy riches.
The same can probably be said about sports, music, acting, etc. The big difference here is the downside risk — with criminality, you're literally risking your life, either in total or a good portion of it, with severely impaired ability to pivot to something else. You can always give up your dream of playing Madison Square Garden and become an accountant, but it's almost impossible to give up a life of crime and have any degree of success doing anything else.
Kinda unusual to put a pallet on a van ...
The only images of a Sweetwater Sound-labeled truck I can find are vans.
If they don't run labeled semi's, that's even more of an implication of some kind of inside job (as if same were necessary).
Last edited:
I scoped the place out on Google Earth.
It appears that the lot could easily be accessed unnoticed from the outside.
I couldn't locate any cameras in any prominent vantage points towards the back corners.
Have a look...
It appears that the lot could easily be accessed unnoticed from the outside.
I couldn't locate any cameras in any prominent vantage points towards the back corners.
Have a look...
Every shady guy in an alley with a trenchcoat full of guitars is a suspect now.
From the article @clayworx posted:
"'Somehow out of a truck full of guitars, this ONE pallet was singled out and stolen at a truck stop,' says Sweetwater Chief Supply Chain and Merchandising Officer Phil Rich. 'With a retail value of $95,000 in guitars, we feel this person/s knew exactly what to look for and when.'"
Ouch
"'Somehow out of a truck full of guitars, this ONE pallet was singled out and stolen at a truck stop,' says Sweetwater Chief Supply Chain and Merchandising Officer Phil Rich. 'With a retail value of $95,000 in guitars, we feel this person/s knew exactly what to look for and when.'"
Ouch
dawind99
Commercial User
- Mar 30, 2012
- 609
- 1,342
- Disclosures
- Owner: Revsound
A "travel center" is a truck stop; Flying J, Pilot, TA, etc. Truckers and anyone else can refuel, eat, sleep and get a shower. Flying J is the Rolls Royce of travel centers
. Thieves and liars, hmm, which one do I hate most. It's a toss up.
Just stole what was in it. Not wanting that model, just a ripoff crew making a score. Could have been something good.
Are you planning to investigate the theft?
The thieves only took one pallet, the one with the super-expensive limited-edition guitars.
It's pretty clear they had some inside information. Either someone at a company involved leaked, or the thieves hacked some systems to get the info.
He was at a truck stop.
I'm sure he used the same level of caution as every other driver at that truck stop. That said, he wasn't transporting nuclear warheads, donor organs, or $20 million in cash.
This sucks for the buyers, and $100k of limited-edition guitars is notable. But no one was hurt, no one is going to die because they didn't get their instruments, and the companies involved have insurance. There's no need to go all Serial about it.
Whoever did it, they were probably professionals. I doubt it took long.
Even when a business has insurance it still costs. I'd guess the excess would be at least $1000 or more and the premiums may go up which is an ongoing cost. Who pays for this? The customer!
A string breaking mid song might make the song suck, but a decent player will be able to get through the song...... maybe you're not decent..... or maybe you're a thief?
Notable that it was only 13 (lucky #From the article @clayworx posted:
"'Somehow out of a truck full of guitars, this ONE pallet was singled out and stolen at a truck stop,' says Sweetwater Chief Supply Chain and Merchandising Officer Phil Rich. 'With a retail value of $95,000 in guitars, we feel this person/s knew exactly what to look for and when.'"
Ouch
!!!) guitars. They stole a pallet of goods- not necessarily the pallet itself.3 guys and a box knife loading out into the back of a 4x4 / open truck / open van in the field or pulled alongside.
Cut the wrap, hand them out one by one bucket brigade style theys be in and out in 2 minute or less.
Even better if it was Postal , carrier, warehouse, construction, installers, ETC that are used to transferring objects in this fashion. Pretty sure I could do it by myself in @ 3 min all told.
This would take less time and be less noisy than a forklift.
Could have used a warehouse unpowered pallet jack were they to have taken it it one unit.
Last edited:
It's not like you wouldn't get your money back..............
