Dallas TOR theft update

For those of you on Patch-L, no doubt you've heard by now, that three very nice patches managed to "grow legs" while there at the Dallas TOR; that is to say, they were stolen.

Mr. Carl Cummins was one of those who lost a patch - a 154 Checote F1, to be exact. Now 154's were hard to come by, even when the Lodge WAS in existence. Now that's they've been gone about 50 years, they've gotten a BIT more scarce.

I asked him, that if his patch had any identifiable characteristics (t-break, stain in any spot, etc.), OR - better yet - if he had a picture of it - to send it on to me, and I'd post it on my blog, in hopes that - if we can't convict the conscience of whomever stole it; to do the honorable thing & return it - we could at least put a picture of it out there amongst the hobbyist, via blogs like mine, so folks can be on the lookout for it. No sense in a thief making any ill-gotten gain off of it! Here's the note - along with a picture - that he sent today;

"Bob
Thanks for your note on my patch theft at the Dallas TOR. I am attaching a scan of the patch "before" I cleaned it up. The cleaned patch was white, no spots however the border was not in very good shape and it looked a bit "lumpy". the border was loose and was put in the best shape possible. The patch could be recognized as I had to use a blue marker to fill in a couple of spots on the border.

Thanks
Carl"

Granted, patches RARELY come with serial numbers (only 476 leaps immediately to mind...), but 154's are QUITE scarce - REGARDLESS their condition. I would think, that if this one (pictured above, left - click on the picture to enlarge it, for more detail) should pop up - on E-Bay, at another TOR, etc. - we should be able to spot it, and report it both to the proper authorities, and most especially to Carl.

This is in fact, a name/number need for me, but I should rather it return to it's rightful owner, than to even acquire it myself for free, KNOWING that it has been stolen. As Scouts/Scouters first, let's see if we can all help Carl, by doing the right thing, and getting this patch back to its rightful owner. If you have a line on who has it, or where it might be, drop Carl a line on Patch-L, or let me know, and I'll make sure it gets to him. And if you have a blog or website, and want to 'steal' this picture and/or story for your site, be my guest. The more folks know about it, the better.

Bob McCanless
Pittsburgh