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GrumpyGizzy. I was thinking. You found the circuit boards "as is" when taking apart the equipment. Could it be? That there was enough room in the equipment cabinet That someone could access the circuit boards. And without removing them. Get a heatgun into the equipment cabinet. And one by one remove the more valuable IC chips? Just a thought that seems to explain the circumstances.
My problem with my own theory here. Is that I can not see any type of circuit board damage from a heat gun.
Also. My personal feelings. If you are in a contract agreement whether written or verbal. To pick up scrap with the place you got the equipment from. You deserve to recieve the equipment without it being meddled with. Stripped. Or otherwise. Unless. It is standard practice to strip out equipmentt before you get it. I know what I just said opens up the proverbial 'can if worms'. But it is something that could be happening.
Here to learn like everybody else