SILVER STATE: Criminals strike again, stealing two bags from the Kyosho team van

0 March 26, 2015, 6:07 p.m.

By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

Kyosho-sponsored father and son duo of Takashiro Manabu and Takashiro Wataru flew from Japan to Las Vegas for the Silver State, got picked up at McCarran International Airport in the Kyosho minivan, and were driven to the South Point Hotel where the rest of the team is staying to get some sleep.

Their gear bags, which contained their nitro buggies, weren’t there this morning.

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Last night, the rear window of the Honda Odyssey was smashed and two Kyosho 50th Anniversary OGIO hauler bags were stolen. Inside, both Manabu and Wataru had MP9 TKI3 buggies with O.S. B2101 engines and Sanwa radio gear, along with plenty of support equipment.

Both racers are determined to enjoy the rest of the trip, and will race using the equipment they still have. As of the time this article was published, a police report had been filed and the South Point hotel security was looking into any recorded footage they might’ve had of the parking lot.

On Thursday morning, a heavy set white or hispanic male wearing a red plaid shirt and jean shorts entered 702 RC Raceway trying to sell Manabu’s car - he claimed that it came from a foreclosed home in the family and he wasn’t sure what it was worth. Unfortunately, word of the stolen cars had yet to reach Garrett Tokuno, the owner of the Vegas indoor track, so he didn’t collect information from the suspect or try to alert authorities before telling him he wasn’t in the market for a used vehicle - but he did suggest to the suspect that he visit the Silver State to see if anyone would want to buy it. After hearing that the car that entered his track was stolen, he contacted other hobby shops in the area and gave them the information he had. These photos are from his security cameras in the hobby shop.

If you or someone you know has any information on the man in these photos, or if you see anything about the buggies described in this story, please contact us at support@liverc.com.