The case of the disappearing 2-ways

The California state Department of Justice is helping to coordinate the investigation into a string of two-way radio thefts in that San Joaquin Valley.

This, according to the Modesto Bee which says that more than 300 radios have been stolen recently, mostly from school buses parked for the night. And so far none have been found. Amateur Radio NewsLines Bruce Tennant, K6PZW says " It's a real mystery as to where the radios are going, latest victim is the Turlock Unified School District with 34 radios stolen last month.

Thieves also have struck the Modesto City Schools District, along with school bus yards, and some report thefts might have reached as far South as San Diego county.

Thefts reported so far have involved only Kenwood two-way radios. In each case, the thieves carefully unscrewed the radios from connectors and mounting brackets. In several instances, older radios were left untouched.

Along with the who-done-it, the big mystery is why.

Investigators say none have shown up on public auction sites or electronics swap meets and they are baffled as to how so many two-way radios could just simply disappear of the face of the Earth.

While police say that they are mystified as to where the radios are going, at least one two-way dealer has an idea where they might be, that "thieves are transporting the stolen radios to Mexico and selling them down there."

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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