Found: 1 safe, action figures

Oakland Tribune, Apr 21, 2007 by Ben Aguirre Jr

FREMONT -- Apparently they were not fans of Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker or R2-D2.

Nearly 70 collectible Star Wars action figures were strewn about the Glenmoor neighborhood Friday morning when thieves dropped a 5- foot safe off the back of their truck and left it in the middle of the road, Detective Bill Veteran said.

Police on Friday still were trying to figure out who owned the safe and how it got to Lombard Street, the detective said. The safe looked like it had been pried open and dumped there by thieves, Veteran said.

"We have not had any reports of missing safes," he said.

Officers were dispatched to Lombard Street about 1:30 a.m. after a man in his garage reported hearing a large bang outside.

When he went to investigate, he found the damaged safe on the street, and several boxes of action figures strewn about.

The figures were sealed in their original packages, and are believed to have been stored inside the safe, the detective said.

Because the safe -- which was so large that it took a tow truck to remove it from the street -- appeared to have been forced open, authorities believe there may have been other valuables inside.

Anyone with information may call police at (510) 790-6900.

Staff writer Ben Aguirre Jr. covers police and the courts.

He can be reached at (510) 353-7011 or baguirre@angnewspapers.com.