Vintage Card Collection Stolen In Chicago

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Posted By: Doug Allen

Yesterday on the North Shore of Chicago a significant collection of vintage cards were stolen. They included the following:

1914/15 Cracker Jack Master Set
M116 Sporting Life Complete Set
M101-4/5 Sporting News Complete Set
Wilson Franks Complete Set
1953-59 Topps Complete Sets
Various other regional sets

All of the cards are raw and except for the 1914/15 Cracker Jacks are in NM or better condition.

These were stolen from an old time collector who is just devistated.

If anyone is offered these cards please call me directly on my cell at 630-336-6650.

All the Best,
Doug Allen
President
Mastro Auctions

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Posted By: howard

That's some collection, I can see why he is devastated. Where were the cards stolen from? Was Mastro auctioning them for him?

Howard

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Wow....I would be devastated too. Good luck getting them back.

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Posted By: Dan Kravitz

I will be at the show Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on the look out. I will mention it to a couple of dealers while I am there. It will be hard for a novice to unload that kind of merchandise with out someone knowing. To be continued...

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Posted By: barry arnold

What a tragedy!
We'll certainly keep our eyes open and do what we can to help.

all the best,

Barry

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Posted By: rob

I collect coupons, were any of the sets t213's? If so I can definitely keep an eye for them, they are certainly rare enough.

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Posted By: dstudeba

I will be looking for the Wilson Franks.

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Posted By: Doug Allen

This weekend could be critical. The scumbags who took them lured the guy out of his house and basically ransacked it!!! I don't think they even know the value of what they took but they will surely try to turn them around quickly for quick cash.

The collection was not consigned to Mastro Auctions. I am a good friend of the collector and have spent many hours viewing his collection. They called because I had a good idea what was in the drawers from which the cards were taken. Fortunately they only got to a few drawers.

Again thanks and if you hear anything call me on my cell 630-336-6650.

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Posted By: Dan Koteles

Does the Chicago local papers acknowledge this show?....if this guy does happen upon, he will sell fast imo. Good luck !

After reading enough horror stories here ,I put 11 cards in a safety deposit box. Many benefits to being here. I sincerely hope it works out ,I dont know how you could get any sleep.

If the guy was lured ,who lured him ?

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Posted By: leon

I hope they catch the scum that did this. I will make sure this thread get's bumped for the next week or more to stay on the main page....good luck Doug and let us know if we can do anything to help...

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Posted By: Anonymous

it would help to have more detail on the cards/sets.
raw or graded ?
a rundown of the regional sets ?
any scans or pics of the big $$ cards? ... in this day and age it's foolish for any collector to not have digital files with scans/pics of thier valuable stuff.

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Posted By: rmacpa

doug,

have you considered posting some of the stolen items
to ebay's want it now as though you were interested
in purchasing them for amounts well in excess of market value.
instead of hoping the thief stumbles across a collector who is aware
of the theft and is honest enough to report the contact, why not
try to draw the thief to you.

roger

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Posted By: Josh Adams

I live on the North Shore, in Glenview. What town did this occur?

I will let the local card shops (what are left) know about this theft and be on the look out at the show along with Dan.

Please keep us posted with developments.
I hate when people take advantage of the elderly.

Go Go White Sox
2005 World Series Champions!

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Posted By: Doug Allen

It may be foolish not to have digital images in this day and age but we are talking about someone who put his Goudey and DeLong sets together from packs!

My team has contacted all the local hobby shops and I sent out an e-mail to my entire database.

I actually think some will turn up...I sure hope so

Thanks,
Doug

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Posted By: Josh Adams

Doug,

Email sent.

Go Go White Sox
2005 World Series Champions!

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Posted By: David Smith

Could this have been a targeted theft orchestrated by a wealthy but unscrupulous collector?? You know, like some wealthy people have specific paintings stolen to add to their collection??

I hope they catch the thieves but more importantly, I hope the cards are recovered. It would be a shame to hear that things got too hot and the cards couldn't be sold, so the thieves ditched them in a garbage can or destroyed them.

David

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Posted By: Mike

I would hate that if it happened to my 1960's but this weekend I will be on the lookout it would be hard to hid a collection like that!

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Posted By: Anonymous

Doug.

my post was not made to say this collector is/was foolish.
......just expressing the idea in order to possibly encourage any collector out there that is not in the practice of documenting their valuable cards with digital images (or at least color xeroxs).

I guess reading between the lines of your post...that these were all raw sets ?

maybe a list of the regional sets or more details on condition of the standout cards would help let the hundreds of collectors/dealers/flippers that read his silly forum what it is we ought to keep an eye out...but maybe not.

either way..good luck.

edited to add:
and let your old-timer know cards sometimes are recovered.
...Ben's case in point.

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Posted By: NetJr

Don't know if it work but maybe post ads on craigslist in the Chicago area wanting to buy vintage cards - paying top dollar - cash immediately and see if anyone shows up?

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Posted By: barrysloate

These stories are always sickening, and for those who say they don't want to put their cards in a safe deposit box because they will never have a chance to look at them, if they are stolen you may never look at them again.

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Posted By: martindl

Murcerfan,
In his original post Doug says "All of the cards are raw........".

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Posted By: Anonymous

so it does...my bad.

sorry..was trying to help..please disregard my posts...carry-on

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Posted By: Bob

Doug, if you're reading this, I am 3 cards away from completing the M116 master set and keep my eyes constantly peeled for M116s from ebay, auctions, private sales, etc. I'll let you know if anything turns up out of the ordinary.
Bob M.

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Posted By: leon

A friendly bump back to the top...These cards will show up somewhere...Please be on the lookout.....we need to catch the scum that stole them or at least get them back to the owner....regards

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Posted By: Mike

This should be bumped, and maybe again this Thursday night. The Chicago Sun Times show is this weekend, they may turn up there.

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

the grading companies have been alerted since they are 'RAW' in the event that who stole them DOES know something about them. Also another good note for bumping for the Sun Times weekend as there are usually some grading companies there.

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Posted By: Bill K@sel

Some A-Hole strikes again I see. I will keep an eye out as well. On a side note, but related...Ben got his collection back!!?? I hope I read that right...if so that is great news!

Bill

My personal collection - http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f176/fkm_bky/

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Posted By: leon

We've been active on the board lately.This keeps going to the 2nd page.....Everyone please remember to be on the lookout for these cards. The person they were stolen from is one of the grandfathers of the hobby...and I understand a very nice gentleman....around 87 yrs young....Thanks again

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Posted By: leon

I have been informed from a reliable source that ALL of the cards have been returned. I believe there will be more details coming. I was told the actual people/person who took them did not get caught but it was the person that got them from someone else that turned them in. Unfortunately, the old time collector's memory isn't too good (he's 87) so the identification of them is a little spotty..... best regards

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Posted By: Jim Clarke

One problem he could have is how do you know those were "his exact" cards. If they were not graded with a certain label number, and if he had no scans of them. There is no way to insure those were actually his cards. Now with that being said, I'm sure if they found all those sets together it is pretty obvious they are his. However, if the honest person who came forward wanted to make a stink about it, I think he might be able to get away with it. I'm sure some attorneys can chime in on that.

I had a similar situation with an X employee of mine who stole 20 parts from me. He was selling them in the Sports Authority parking lot at half my cost on them. When he got busted he said he bought them at a flee market and he did NOT get prosecuted. The parts were made out of fiberglass from my molds and I even reported the parts stolen. But there was no way to proof that my parts were the ones he was selling

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Posted By: leon

You said....

"I'm sure if they found all those sets together it is pretty obvious they are his."


My understanding is that is the case...and there is 0 percent chance of this happening ironically. I think more details will come out....regards

edited to add the C in JC......sorry bout that...

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Posted By: Jim Clarke

You can call me "J" or you can call me "Ray" but whatever you do "Don't call me late for dinner" I think that was from an old Saturday Night live gig back in the 80's?

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Posted By: cmoking

Has Doug Allen been scared off from posting here that he had to get Leon to make the post for him?

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Posted By: leon

No....Doug has not been scared off.....no reason to start rumors....I got the info from someone else also close to the case...stay tuned...

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Posted By: cmoking

Thanks Leon, I see Rob's post now. I do wish Doug would come back on the board and let us know what his plans are now that he's gotten responses from SGC and (presumably) PSA too. But I won't hold my breath waiting for his post.