Comics crime watch: Annapolis, Md.

Art "Gerry" Roberts is gunning for the burglar who broke into his Annapolis, Md., home last Friday night and stole more than 1,000 vintage comics, which he values at between $50,000 and $80,000.

"This boy is going down," Roberts, 39, told the Annapolis Capital.

Among the stolen items were a lengthy run of Marvel Team-Up, Uncanny X-Men #4, and a Batman comic autographed by Adam West.

Police believe the thief had previous knowledge of Roberts' collection, because a television, collectibles and boxes containing classic issues of Dr. Strange, Nick Fury and The Incredible Hulk were untouched.

(Although I'm sure it won't console Mr. Roberts, he may be interested to know that he's not the only one who had comics burgled last week. According to the police blotter of The Oregonian, comic books were reported stolen on Monday night from an apartment on 91st Avenue in Portland.)