A Long Beach antique dealer is out more than 100 vintage pieces after a U-Haul box truck packed with inventory vanished in broad daylight from the Wrigley neighborhood on March 10, the dealer says. The truck, loaded with roughly 130 antiques, had been parked outside a home and was supposed to head back to a downtown showroom. Inside were paintings, pottery, and furniture from the 1920s and 1930s, many of them one-off, historically significant finds that are now scattered, who knows where.
What Was Stolen
Khobe DeLuca, the Long Beach antique dealer and curator who organized the move, told reporters the truck disappeared within about 35 minutes of being parked. Among the standout missing pieces are a Juan Duran Tinoco painting of a bucking bronco and a 26-tile table with an ornate wrought-iron base. DeLuca says they are part of a larger Los Angeles-region collection dating to the 1920s to 1930s, making them especially hard to replace. As reported by NBC Los Angeles.
Inventory And Showroom
DeLuca runs a showroom and has posted a detailed list of what vanished, so collectors and dealers know what to look for. The business page for Golden Hour California highlights its Los Angeles and Long Beach locations and offers a downloadable inventory of the stolen pieces to help with identification. Per Golden Hour California.
Truck Recovered, Most Pieces Still Missing
The rental company located the U-Haul the next day, but the relief was short-lived. DeLuca recovered only about 20 items from inside, leaving more than 90 pieces still missing and valued at over $100,000. To shake loose leads, DeLuca has put up a $10,000 reward.
Surveillance video from a neighbor shows a minivan pulling up next to the box truck, then someone hopping into the U-Haul and driving it away in about 90 seconds. The Long Beach Police Department says the investigation is ongoing, and DeLuca is urging the public to keep an eye on swap meets and second-hand shops for any of the distinctive items. As reported by NBC Los Angeles.
Why Collectors Should Be On Alert
Loaded rental trucks have become tempting targets in other high-value thefts, with stolen goods often reappearing at swap meets or on resale sites before owners even know where to look. A similar loss, involving an entire U-Haul full of specialty goods stolen in San Jose, was covered by an entire U-Haul full of specialty goods stolen in San Jose, underscoring how quickly unique items can vanish into resale channels. Local dealers say public vigilance and fast reporting to police offer the best shot at recovering one-of-a-kind pieces.
How To Help
DeLuca is asking anyone who thinks they recognize the stolen antiques to comb through swap meets, thrift shops, and online marketplaces and to reach out through the gallery's stolen-inventory page. The page includes photos and a downloadable checklist to make it easier to spot items that should not be on the market. Local collectors and dealers are also urged to contact the Long Beach Police Department with any tips or sightings. Per Golden Hour California.
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