Help a Fellow Hobbyist Recover Stolen Car and Parts
On Tuesday, Oct 9, 2007, while Lee Jacobsen was in Hershey, his warehouse at 10301 Joy Road in Detroit was broken into and many British car parts were stolen. A vehicle was used to ram through steel doors. The alarm was disabled. Anything copper, brass, aluminum or dense steel was stolen, along with tools, grinders, floor jacks, drill presses, batteries, etc. Neighbors called the police, but none came in time to prevent a lot of damage.
Eight British cars were vandalized for their metal and one was stolen. The cars that were vandalized were, a ‘45 TC, a ’53 TD, a ‘55 TF, a ’57 MGA coupe, a ’63 TR 3-B, a ’37 MGSA, ’38 MG SA, ’52 Jaguar XK 120 roadster. A 1970 MGB roadster, tartan red, VIN GHN5UA195022G, was stolen.
Aside from the ’70 MGB, other stolen items include radiators and shells from the TC, TD, ’37 MG SA (mint shell not restored), ’38 MG SA (concours shell), and radiators from the MGA, TR 3-B and ‘52 JAG – all via crowbar and tools. The couldn’t get the TF radiator and shell, but they destroyed it in the process. Spare tire knockoffs were taken from the TC and TD.
The most valuable parts were taken from the prewar SAs. All the parts were restored but in boxes including carburetors, two brass SU fuel pumps and copper lines, four chrome window channels (these are each 24″ long), aluminized exhaust manifolds, stainless sleeved M/C and wheel cylinders, brass fuel lines, boxes of small chrome brass parts such as latches, brass fittings, etc.
Non-automotive items that were stolen include 30 rolls of 10″ wide aluminum foil, 14″ diameter, each weighing 150 pounds.
The warehouse was divided into 3 inner sections with locked steel doors. The MGB was used as a ram to break these 3 inner doors — a testimony to MGBs that is was still drivable enough to be stolen.
Any assistance to recover these parts, especially the SA parts, would be greatly appreciated.
Lee is offering a $1000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the SA radiators. If you have any information, please contact Detective Kevin Payton at 313-596-5640, and reference Complaint # 0710100147. Please call Lee Jacobson, as well, at 734-591-6111 x101.
