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Naval officer seeks return of packages reported stolen
Newbury Park man says his ceremonial sword missing
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More from County NewsNavy Capt. Ralph Scaffidi was looking forward to retirement after 35 years serving his country.
He packed up some of his most treasured possessions and shipped them by UPS from Honolulu, where he was stationed with the U.S. Pacific Command, to his home in Newbury Park.
He believed that shipping his naval ceremonial sword and a memorial lithograph as well as some other retirement gifts, would be safer than checking them at the airport on his flight home.
He was mistaken.
Although UPS safely delivered his packages to his doorstep Tuesday, someone else got to them before Scaffidi and stole his precious mementoes.
Scaffidi filed a report with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, but he knows there's little deputies can do.
In desperation, he's offering a financial reward for the packages' return and says he's not interested in prosecuting anyone.
"Whoever took them has bigger problems, and I don't want to clog up the courts," he said. "I just want my things back."
Scaffidi has had his 3-foot-long ceremonial sword ever since he graduated from the Naval Academy. The lithograph, which depicts a famous World War II battle, is signed by his fellow servicemen and friends with farewell wishes. Scaffidi says the items have minimal value on the market but are priceless to him.
"I hope whoever's taken them will treat them with respect and realize that they represent 35 years of my life and are of huge sentimental value," he said.
Scaffidi joined the Navy in 1973, and after 15 years on active duty, he became part of the Navy Reserve. Most recently, he spent several years as a senior officer stationed in Hawaii, first with the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor and then with the U.S. Pacific Command.
"It's a shame," said Cmdr. Rob Espinosa, executive officer for Command of the Pacific Fleet, speaking by phone from Honolulu about the thefts.
"I compare it to the loss of a wedding album after being married for 35 years. The items are of no value to those who took them, but they're of great value to him and his wife and to those of us who have served with him."
Espinosa, who worked with Scaffidi for the past five years, praised his professionalism and dedication, and described him as "a commanding officer with great presence."
Capt. Kevin Donahue, who is also about to retire from the Navy Reserve, has known Scaffidi for more than 20 years, and he expressed shock at what's happened.
"These items are deeply individual and literally irreplaceable," said Donahue, who lives in Thousand Oaks.
Anyone with any information about the stolen items, or anyone wishing to return them, is asked to contact the Thousand Oaks Police Department at 800-494-TALK.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 19, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I really hope you get your pocessions back.
Posted by AnaCapa on May 19, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The thief is going to have a hard time pawning the stuff off now that word is out about this. I'm sure the police have contacted pawn shops and ebay. I hope they catch the creeps that did this.
Posted by tom on May 19, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The good captain only needed to specify - Do Not Deliver Without Signature - and this would not have happened. Sending your valuable possessions to sit on a doorstep is not a good idea. I am surprised that the reporter would not mention this fact. A good story is less of a good story without all the facts... It's shoddy reporting.
Posted by libertyrider on May 19, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe UPS should go back to getting a signature for every pack delivered instead of leaving them on a front porch for any thief to take. The company is all about push, push, push to get packages delivered, yet holds no responsibility for packages left on doorsteps that never make it into the owners hands. It doesn't matter if the package is insured. Money won't replace what this man lost.
I've heard of too many stories like this. Seems like UPS should change their delivery policy.
Posted by outadabusiness on May 19, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UPS should most certainly be held accountable in this matter. I too live in Newbury Park. A little over a year ago, my wife and I had custom wedding rings made. They too were stolen from the Newbury Park UPS center. At the time they were supposedly pretty sure who was doing the stealing, but since we technically were not the vicitms (the jeweler was), we have not been kept informed as to the outcome. Sure seems like they have more than one bad apple in that place. Perhaps people should SERIOUSLY consider not doing business with UPS until this matter is fixed. So sorry for you loss.
Posted by outadabusiness on May 19, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Before I get creamed for my above comment, I should say that I did not read the article closely enough to know that this occurred at UPS, but, I also do not see anything in the article saying it was left on the doorstep. Sure leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
Posted by Ventura22 on May 19, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Although UPS safely delivered his packages to his doorstep Tuesday, someone else got to them before Scaffidi and stole his precious mementoes."
Oversight. It was stated in the article.
Posted by outadabusiness on May 19, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In my case, the records showed it was put on the truck, but the delivery was not made. Perhaps?
Posted by clementine on May 19, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A couple of weeks ago, I had a package delivered by UPS (from QVC) - it was 2 t-shirts. My neighbor saw me outside & handed it to me. The UPS guy delivered it to the wrong house. The neighbor opened my package & put a piece of tape to close it. I was so upset that I emailed UPS. I know mistakes happen - but that should not have happened. Luckily she was honest in returning it. I order products from QVC very often & they leave it on my doorstep & don't even ring my bell or knock on the door - something they used to do. Fortunately, I'm home most of the time & when I know that I'm going to receive something - I check often. Do you remember years ago when most people were honest???
Posted by surfmedic91 on May 19, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All he can do is file a claim and hope to get reimbursed for the item. When he set up the shipment, he can request a signature delivery but that doesn't keep someone internally at UPS from opening the package and taking it. He'll be lucky if he gets it back, let alone any money from UPS for it.
Posted by bugmenot on May 19, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can designate a package signature required. In these cases the carrier will not leave the package on the door without a signature.
I believe by not making a package signature required the sender is agreeing to release the carrier (UPS) of any liability after the package is left at the door.
Posted by Jacksprat on May 19, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What has happened in this c---ry, that they can't leave some thing on your door step with out someone else walking away with it. Once was a time when you did not even worry too much about locking the front door, now we have put up bars. Some where along ti line this has gone wrong, we lost trust, we lost every thing, because with out trust,how can you look at any one any more. The clerk give you too much change, do you tell her and return it? the gas pump is broken and you get more gas then show, to you tell the person running the place or do you just drive off likeing the fact you just screw some one else. They taught us some thing in school, not the bible, or prayer but one very important thing which through the years I have tried to live by, it was the GOLDEN RULE. Do on to others as you would want them to do to you. Let us start teaching that in school again and get over this idea of I will take what I want, even if it is not mine.
Posted by surfmedic91 on May 19, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bugmenot, the signature is only a verification that the package listed under that tracking number has been delivered and someone has taken posession, or chain of custody, of it. It doesn't even verify that the package you shipped was the one that was delivered.
Posted by vcmann on May 20, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UPS is the most unreliable way to ship. I will only use Fedex or the US Mail.
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