Oh, I'm so sorry this happened to you. Really leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.
I went to a large show and took a class with a nationally known teacher. We all paid for a set of handpainted fabric. I went to lunch and when I came back, my last green piece was missing. I had plans to use it and tore things apart looking for it. Now, I couldn't prove it and didn't want to believe it, but the 'nice' lady next to me suddenly had a lot more green in her wallhanging piece. Learned a lesson there. But, at least, it wasn't an expensive tool instead.
lots2do