Victim: $10,000 worth of comics stolen

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A Mobile said more than $10,000 worth of comic books were stolen from his business and is asking the public to help find those responsible for the missing comics.

Stephen Barrington has owned and operated 'Flea Market Comics' for more than 20 years in Mobile. 

He said comic books are his passion; and he has roughly 10,000 of them in his personal collection.

“All my life I've been passionate about them,” said Barrington, inside his home office. “I've been collecting them for many, many years. I’ve been reading them since I was old enough to read.”

It’s a passion he brings to work with him. He said he has never had any serious problems at his flea market shop in the past.  

On January 15, however, Barrington said that all changed after he discovered burglars broke in to the store and stole more than $10,000 worth of rare comic books.

“It just left me deflated,” he said. “People would come in just to look at the covers on them because they were such a various period from the 30s to the present and like I said anything on a display; they took.”

Barrington said the cash register and file cabinets were not touched. He said  three locks had been cut off the units and replaced by a combination lock; leading him to believe the burglars had planned to return to the shop.

As far as he knew, his neighboring business owners were not hit by the thieves.

He is hoping someone with information can help get the comic books back.

“Return them. That's all I want, is to have them returned. No questions asked,” pleaded Barrington.

If you have any information, contact Mobile police.