I had a bran new 3700 nicked when they first came out at my local club a few months earlier i had a nokia 6230 nicked, not quite a full car but £200 all the same
You should ask everyone on rctech, to write the transponder number down and submit it at thier local track even if its not in the USA, he may have sold it on ebay and sent it abroad or something. Also, if the guy has any sense he would have sold it to somebody privately so if they go into a model shop asking for a battery for it if they are new to the hobby or something dont smash thier face in straight away, ask where they got the car and trace it back.