Maybe there was a time it was.....near the end, he got sloppy.

I like the previously mentioned idea of using a clear plastic holder with the cardholder inside it, secured with a steel cable bolted to the table. This wouldn't cost very much and it seems to work for stores. At the very minimum, you could also have a sign saying you are on camera right next to the high-value cards.

Use a baseball bat on the thief.

The statement you made sounds good but in reality, I wouldn't want the assault charge unless I was physically threatened.

That only works if you catch him first.

I said that because I feel the same things are being said over and over in this thread.

Totally OT, I love post #4 in this old thread- in 2009, Sandy (I don’t know Sandy) is claiming how expensive Festberg’s prices were in the late 80’s, but that he wishes he could buy those cards today (In 2009) for those “exhorbitant” prices.

security cameras
 

Living nearby, I am familiar with the venue of the White Plains show. The dealer display area is not that large, and being part of a sports arena, there are ample areas in the upstairs seating areas to position security cameras that could cover the entire floor. Being in the real estate business, we use such cameras to blanket the common areas of our properties. They have proven quite effective in not only catching crooks, but as important in dissuading people from engaging in such conduct. Had such a system existed at White Plains, by zeroing in on the table where the theft occurred, almost certainly there would have been a tape of the theft taking place. Cameras these days are of such quality that once the act is spotted, the image can be blown up and the thief identified.

Yes there is a cost to do this. But for a venue such as the Westchester County Center where the show takes place and that is in the business of attracting shows such as this, it would likely pay for itself though lower insurance costs and higher dealer participation. Think of it -- if you are a crook how likely would you be to steal a card when you know that your actions will be captured on a video for all to see? Better still, if the stolen card is resold at the same show, the camera system will enable one to follow the perpetrator after the theft and show him selling the card. So not only will the perpetrator be caught, but there will be a good image of the person who bought the card.

Good advice Corey, and from what they charge for a table, they should provide this at least

What about get insurance? Why are none of these dealers covered?

Festberg is back
 

hello folks, returned from india to attend my youngest daughters wedding. when to my house in the catskills eveything was stolen all the cooper, boiler, etc, most of all 90% of my collection incl. t206 cobb/cobb back. then police told me to get out i lost my art deco house the state said i was away to long. it sold in auction while teaching yogi and english for many years in incrediable india. took may cards with me to white plains . a young man offered me some football cards i bought them then arrest for stolen mech. saw the judge next day told my story it was thown out of court. ive had some bad karma since returning to the states. i have a good friend a hindu billioner i cured his daughter of illness. so with his backing i will return to the oldest sports acution since 1973, i will pay the highest prices for your collection my backer owns 3 t.v. stations , etc, .. we several billions to spend festberg is back to all my friends GODBLESS peace, love, and pray YOGI RAJ DAVID

What???


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

WTF?

What The Festberg (is going on)

hey boo boo!

I believe "Yogi Raj David" above is longtime dealer and hobby character David Festberg, who moved to India some years ago to practice yoga, but maintained a home in upstate New York. See this Net54 thread from 10 years ago:

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

He used to have weekly phone auctions in SCD in the early-to-mid 90s, from which I got many great type cards for my then-burgeoning collection. He was very nice about breaking up lots to let me buy one card, since I was a poor grad student at the time. I met him in person at the 1993 National in Chicago.

That is one heck of a first post. Namaste. :)

Must've forgot English while he was away...

You can't make this crap up. His name is David Festberg. He and I spoke a few times this evening on the phone. I told him to put his name by his post but oh well....I will help him out and put it under his id....
Yawl can take it from here.

So sad about the 55 Clemente, but I have a feeling this thread is about to change topics.

Welcome , Dave.
 

Hello old friend. Glad you're back in with us. I still have all the cards and memorabilia from our many interesting deals all those years ago. MG.

..

Can you break this into it's own thread instead of piggybacking on another one?

Post 43 says he was arrested. He told me, on the phone, it was for stealing (if not this card) cards and the case was thrown out the next day when he told his story. I don't think his post is out of place. He might brush up on his writing skills but we can at least decipher what he writes. :) . In a perfect world this would have been done in its own thread.

You were living in India for many years. You were gone so long that your house was considered abandoned property, and in this abandoned house you had a very expensive card collection including Cobb/Cobb back? Sounds a bit incredible.

edit

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

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.

David Festberg???? Do you remember me??? I bought from your auctions back in the late 90s. I returned a set which was trimmed (not as advertised) and you blew me off. I was the customer who faxed you 120 black pages daily until you finally called me and said I was crazy. Then you just wanted to tell me about being a Vietnan Vet, and that you have memory loss. Hope the Yoga and lifestyle change makes you feel better.

I was gonna fire up something on Netflix tonight but this thread is more entertaining than anything on the tube. ;)

Sounds more like a foreclosure if the police told him to get out. Don't think we are getting the facts and based on post #1 I personally am not holding my breath for this to get any more clear.

Just what the forum needs --- another hindu billioner.

Frank I have always enjoyed your posts and wit. This comment is by far your best. Thanks for always making me laugh.

Frank, you promised to never talk about that!

Actually, Frank's best was when he told us that " sometimes you can see a lot through plastic" and included a photo to prove his point. :D

Is your backer a Nigerian Prince?

Yogi is dead. And so is the future of the English language in India.

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone.

???
 

By back do you mean you’re allowed in the White Plains show again? Since the charge was thrown out? That’s where you were arrested for stealing 50s cards from a buddy of mine.

Seeking clarity.

Yeah this whole story smells very similar to other hobby Stalwarts...convicted of crime(s) in the past...now rehabilitated through religeon/meditation.

If the story is in fact true I cannot feel bad for you David Festberg.

You were a dick to me at a show many years ago...i’m sure you wouldn’t remember!

#me2

Most of those guys don't. Being a dick is 2nd nature.

No wonder when I call our company's IT support line I can't understand a word they say. Seriously.

Seems like Yogi David has had a rough time since coming back to the US. Maybe he should have a hamburger and call it a day.

Not Yogi David

I was perusing this thread at lunchtime at work and have to say I've been sitting here for about half an hour reading, very entertained. Wow and WTF! I haven't been to a show in probably a decade and never one outside of NC. I never really considered theft as a "thing" at card shows, but I'm sure it's happened many times before. Shaking my head...

That really sucks about the '55 Clemente, I hope the gentleman somehow gets it back.

Several billion to spend in the hobby should be able to buy most cards in existence I imagine. Keep us updated on your progress. It will make for a most entertaining thread.

And what a story it will make rounding the news and auction circuit scene - local TV station conglomeration funds billion-dollar-plus vintage baseball card buyout bonanza...:eek:

I thought it was discussed that we were not to discuss or make a discussion on the Buyers Groups.
Hopefully, these guys will buy out the Wagner RP's out there and be no longer of existence.