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Villain steals man’s life work; $30,000 Star Wars collection

Posted at 11:14 AM, Oct 26, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-26 13:22:53-04

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The latest Star Wars film is bringing out fans everywhere… including some real life villains.

A collector in Washington, Richard Bates, came home to find about $30,000 of his Star Wars stockpile was missing.

In all, his collection is worth about $45,000.

Bates told KOIN he understands this is a “perfect time for people to steal my stuff and sell it,” because the latest movie coming out soon.

“All of this stuff is extremely rare,” he told KOIN. “The better part of my savings was wrapped up in these things.”

Bates said some of his collection was spared, including “a mint condition field Millennial Falcon.”

He told KOIN he thinks the culprit turned to The Dark Side; “There’s a lot of Siths out there.”

“I just try to use it as a moral compass to do what’s right,” Bates told KOIN. “It just reminds me: ‘Do or do not. There is no try.’”

Bates said, for him, it’s not about the money. He said he just wants the pieces back.

See the latest on this story from KOIN here.