PSA 8 1955 Topps Clemente.... STOLEN!

[danmckee]

Hello fellow collectors, A dear friend of mine had a PSA 8 1955 Topps Clemente Rookie STOLEN out of his show case at the East Coast National this weekend (The White Plains NY Show).

This is the only picture I have so far and I am sure the POS scumbag that took it will be busting it out but the flip # is 04011378.

Please keep your eyes open, any help is appreciated.

Contact: Vincent at conromaster@msn.com

Dan Mckee

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[calvindog]

Dan, were you at the show today?

[Jay Wolt]

I hate hearing about this, hopefully the card makes it back to the dealer & the bum gets jail time

[Republicaninmass]

I was there today, I guess theft was prevalent this weekend. Talk of the town was the Clemente though

[rdwyer]

I don't understand how easily these things are getting stolen. I'd keep all cases locked at all times. I'd only open one case at a time, and not let the customer handle any of the cards until he asked for a particular one. I'd then only let him handle one at a time. Everyone else can wait.

danmckee: If you know how it was stolen, please share.. I'm sure others here would want to know.

[CurtisFlood]

Very sad. The thieving scum bag will likely break it out and replace with a lesser card and try to sell it as a PSA8, then get the stolen card regraded . I'd like to see this stopped, but only total vigilance will get that done. Keep cases locked at all times unless showing an individual card as stated by another poster. The more eyes you have on your inventory at a show the better.

[danmckee]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Dan, were you at the show today?

No I did not attend Jeff

[danmckee]

I rarely lock my cases at shows though I have so much crap that if they steal something from me, I may not know it.

Also, I wouldn't want to catch anyone stealing from me as I may beat $250,000.00 out of them as that is what My dad had stolen at the 1991 Anaheim National.

My friend is 75 years old, keeps his cases locked but got side tracked and forgot to lock this one after showing a card. He then bought 4 cards from a young man and I believe turned his back to price them and sleeve them and that is when he says he heard a case lid closing. He turned and know one was there.

Truly sad that people have to steal.

Dan Mckee

[slidekellyslide]

Time for dealers to start setting up camera systems all around their tables. They aren't that expensive compared to the inventory some of these dealers carry.

[danmckee]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Time for dealers to start setting up camera systems all around their tables. They aren't that expensive compared to the inventory some of these dealers carry.

That is really a great idea and cameras are small and light weight and can be used with your phone.

[rdwyer]

A camera system would be great. But the thief would be long gone before reviewing any footage. You would need cameras plus a monitor. I recommend a monitor because you'll have a bigger picture. Or you could review on your iPhone, etc.

Your friend was doing everything right. It's a shame he lost that card.

I can help anyone who needs help setting up a Camera system with DVR. I recommend Swann security systems. Easy to setup, and use.

[ruth_rookie]

Originally Posted by danmckee

My friend is 75 years old... got side tracked and forgot to lock this one after showing a card. He then bought 4 cards from a young man and I believe turned his back to price them and sleeve them and that is when he says he heard a case lid closing. He turned and know one was there.

I’m not saying this is what happened, so if you’re the guy who sold the cards don’t get pissed at me for pure speculation. But could the scam possibly include the guy selling the card in an effort to distract the dealer? A team effort?

[rdwyer]

Back to what I said before. Only one card out at a time. Never let a customer open a case. It should be locked even when showing off one card. This would make it very hard to steal something top dollar. This is how Coin Dealers & Jewelers do it.

[bdecsports]

Dan, what day was the Clemente stolen? The guy arrested on Friday up there was David Festberg..old-time hobbyist and had a store in Brooklyn back in the day, but now on to other things apparently.

Hope the card turns-up from the attention this is getting.

Regards,

Bryan Dec

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by bdecsports

Dan, what day was the Clemente stolen? The guy arrested on Friday up there was David Festberg..old-time hobbyist and had a store in Brooklyn back in the day, but now on to other things apparently.

Hope the card turns-up from the attention this is getting.

Regards,

Bryan Dec

Dave was a long time dealer. I was speaking with another dealer who had purchased stuff from him at the show - hope it was legit! I did business with him a long time ago. I think he also ran auctions for a short time. So sad that he chose to resort to this.


Just found this old thread too:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=61226

Looks like not the first time and not just cards

https://www.facebook.com/ulsterpolic...9207142143802/

[savedfrommyspokes]

Speaking of old Festberg threads, the irony of post #12 in this one:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=92635

[Marchillo]

Oh the irony

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/07...3129522302400/

[clydepepper]

Coming soon to a town near you:

Background checks and waiting periods required for '52 Mantle purchases.


I'm almost kidding.

[Buythatcard]

It would be nice to be able to come up with the same technology that department stores use in the clothing department. A small tag can be mounted to the back of the slab which would set off an alarm when the card passed thru a spot which reads the tag. Security would also be positioned at these areas where the tag is read.

The dealer would have a means to remove the tag when the card is sold.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by bdecsports

Dan, what day was the Clemente stolen? The guy arrested on Friday up there was David Festberg..old-time hobbyist and had a store in Brooklyn back in the day, but now on to other things apparently.

Hope the card turns-up from the attention this is getting.

Regards,

Bryan Dec

Dave F was a dick to me at a show many years ago...karma's a bitch!

[Donscards]

Originally Posted by bdecsports

Dan, what day was the Clemente stolen? The guy arrested on Friday up there was David Festberg..old-time hobbyist and had a store in Brooklyn back in the day, but now on to other things apparently.

Hope the card turns-up from the attention this is getting.

Regards,

Bryan Dec

Festberg was the person doing all the stealing Friday (also then reselling a lot of stuff too) He was finally caught and arrested---but it was another person who stole the Clemente Saturday.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Donscards

Festberg was the person doing all the stealing Friday (also then reselling a lot of stuff too) He was finally caught and arrested---but it was another person who stole the Clemente Saturday.

how BOLD!

[Madi$on18joshua]

Originally Posted by Donscards

Festberg was the person doing all the stealing Friday (also then reselling a lot of stuff too) He was finally caught and arrested---but it was another person who stole the Clemente Saturday.

WOW! If two were caught how many got away? I googled Festberg and a story came up from a long time ago where $75k worth of cards was stolen from him.

[bbsports]

I happened to be set up to the left on Saturday when the Clemente theft occurred. Unfortunately it happened on the opposite side of me where the thief walked out the door parallel to where the show case was located. It makes me sick when things like this happen to any dealer. I have a problem here with camera security. All places that hold big shows need to have not only security cameras, but to be sure they are operating properly. I had another person working with me in Cleveland that had cards stolen & he was told that not all the cameras at the National were not covering all the tables, including mine. Also if signs are posted at all card shows that there are security cameras, it may give people a notion not to steal.

[rdwyer]

A picture of the thief on camera doesn't guarantee an arrest. Only if someone recognizes the thief or the thief's picture is put on the news will the picture be any good. I highly urge dealers to:

1) Lock all cases
2) Only open one case at a time to get a card out, and then immediately lock it
again while the person looks at the card.
3) Return the card when done.
4) EVERYONE else can wait! Especially when a top dollar card is out.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by bdecsports

Dan, what day was the Clemente stolen? The guy arrested on Friday up there was David Festberg..old-time hobbyist and had a store in Brooklyn back in the day, but now on to other things apparently.

Hope the card turns-up from the attention this is getting.

Regards,

Bryan Dec

Here is the post # 43 referred to earlier, for those who are just too lazy to locate it yourselves. Strange for him to post on a thread that indicates he had been arrested (for whatever reason... perhaps as he seems to be claiming for allegedly fencing stolen merchandise as it seems he is claiming)????

Brian

[Yastrzemski Sports]

Seeing this post brings back bad memories of that show. I was there buying and I went to table after table and almost everyone had things missing. The theft was rampant that weekend and everyone was talking about the Clemente. Very sad.