my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Gilbert Maines</b><p>If it hasn't been mentioned already, you may want to notify the slabbing companies about the combination of cards you lost, so they may be able to detect a matching group. A holder may be thought of as a partial disguise for your cards, by the thief.

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Glenn</b><p>Ben,<br /><br />Just terrible news. I'm very sorry. I'll be happy to donate my T206 Chance portrait whenever you come back to the hobby. In addition to all the other helpful comments posted here, I would add the mail carrier and other parcel delivery folks to the list of suspects. And while it is probably only the slightest consolation, it is worth pointing out that the particulars of the robbery suggest that the thief is someone who has at least a reasonably good knowledge of the hobby, so that the cards will be protected and when they do start turning up they are likely to be in much the same condition as when you last saw them. I wish you all the luck in the world hunting down the thief and your collection.<br /><br />Glenn

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>qualitycards</b><p>BEN - Thats such horrible news. A collection is the advent of passion & pride and cannot be replaced as easy as a TV or stereo. I hope you recover everything and the bastards responsible do jail time...jay

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Adam J. Baxter</b><p>Ben-<br /> Very sorry to hear of the theft your collection. I have to agree with several previous posters that the person or persons responsible is either close to you or associated with someone you know. I know that the last thing you want to do is suspect a friend, family member etc. But greed unfortunately knows no boundries. Someone had to know you had those in that drawer or had a pretty good idea about the general area you were keeping them in. I sincerely hope that you are able to recover your collection or at the very least some of it. Hang in there and don't let your collecting spirit be broken. We're all here to help in any way we can.<br /><br />Best,<br /> Adam

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Mark</b><p>Ben, so sorry to hear about your loss. I'll be checking ebay so see if any of your cards show up, along with most everyone else I'm sure. I hope you don't quit the hobby - you've given me expert advice on hockey and bb cards!

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Gary B.</b><p>Ben,<br /><br />I was telling my wife about what happened, and all I got out was something like, "this person I know from the baseball card site has a small apartment in Montreal in Canada. he had a box in a drawer covered by clothes that had his baseball cards in it. someone broke into his apartment, took the cards and didn't take anything else including..." She immediately said, "it had to have been an inside job - someone that knows him". This was with only some of the information - I'm sure you're following up on this angle as it seems apparent to many of us that this is very highly likely the case...

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Scott Forrest</b><p>Who have you done business with recently, who knew you would be gone, and who wouldn't have to fly to get to your apartment?

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Brian Weisner</b><p><br /> Hi Ben,<br /> Are there any windows in the room where your cards were stored? Have you had any workers in lately? Cable? Phone? If it wasn't someone who knows you very well and had access to your Apt, than it had to be someone who has a view. <br /> The cards will show up someday, when the thief sells them to some un suspecting dealer. I hope that happens sooner than later.<br /><br /> Very sorry, Brian

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>dan mckee</b><p>How did they get in the apartment? Was it forced entry? Is anything else missing? I would think a better chance for fingerprints would be on the door knob or window, whichever they broke to get in. If it was forced entry, you should call the police immediately. Dan.

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Ben</b><p>Thank you Mike for your helpful thread, and for everyone's kindness. All the emails, advice, and offers to help were really amazing. After posting here last night, you can all imagine that I was very shaken and distraught. First thing I did was naturally to call my parents, who were extremely supportive as they always are. My mom kept telling me that it wasn't the worst thing that could happen, and while I reacted to that statement initially with anger, I realized it was true after cooling down after a while. Actually, the support of my parents proved that this was true - my dad insisted that he take the 3 hour drive to montreal on a snowy highway so that I wouldnt have to deal with this catastrophe alone. He knows how much of me is invested in my collection, or at least he knows now. My family is way more important than cards, and this situation only brought that reality into better focus.<br /><br />I then called the police, who told me an officer would show up soon, but not HOW soon. So I waited a hellish 2 hours here in my apartment reading the board and watching people respond to my post before the officer showed up. Name was Luc Marticotte, who is basically your francophone version of Ray Romano. I'm no forensic expert, and I'm pretty sure Luc wasn't either, but it didnt take much to realize that this was a very clean entrance and departure, with no signs of forceable entry. The only things out of place were the two boxes I held the cards in. The one that I keep in my dresser was in my bedroom and the tupperwear container where I hold all my childhood stuff was without it's top, on my couch. The only way anyone got into the apartment was by picking the front lock, which is doable, or by entering through the kitchen window, which is my suspicion. I forgot to lock the damn window. <br /><br />Ray Romano looked around, wrote the basics on his theft report, and left after 10 minutes with the two boxes that my cards were in. He's gonna look for fingerprints, but I'm dubious. I have a feeling that these lackeys aren't gonna do jack for me. In terms of helpful and agressive intervention by the police in matters of theft, I think that the Montreal police force is is far less rigorous than what most of you are used to. Maybe I'm wrong. Anyways, my dad showed up about 45 minutes later, and since I hadnt eaten all day, we went to my pet restraunt closeby, Alto's. Not much to look at, but they're cheap, great service, and they work hard for a living. And they make a great cheeseburger and poutine. After dinner I wanted to keep my mind off the cards, so we went and rented "Raising Arizona" on dvd. I was drained, and couldnt focus on the movie so we both just went to bed, my dad refusing bed to my junk ass couch. It was white when I got it, now it's a creamy brown. When we woke up in the morning, I posted here, and then wrote out a notice in english and french to hand around to all the pawn shops. I included a complete list and a page of colour scans of some of my heartbreakers. n162 kelly top left. So I spent today handing these out around town, and also to my apeish, white ponytailed, "philo-semetic" (dad's words) landloard Orel. He's a christian who loves jews, which means special treatment pour moi, but that's another story. Orel wasn't much help, but he talked his head off to us like he usually does. Sent out an urgent email to Gerry Chartrand, who is one of the only major card dealers in this area...mostly hockey though. This nhl lockout must be screwing him large, btw. He hasn't gotten back to me yet. I suppose I will continue passing out these notices around town, antique shops, junk shops, coin shops, whatever. <br /><br />I was amazed at the influx of emails I got from everyone last night and today. I havent been able to write back as I've been too sad/busy to write out that many emails but I will be in touch with all of you of course. This is truly an amazing group of collectors, thank you so much.<br /><br />I know people have said it alot in the past, "it's only cardboard", but I guess I'll have to discover if that's for real. Thanks for reading.

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Ben, what a sickening bit of news. Some free advice: the cops will be of marginal help as will the local dealers. Adam is right, they'll buy and sell your stuff just to make a buck and then say "How could I have known it was stolen?" You need to go to each of them (internet dealers as well) and offer a reward for every card they locate. Make sure the reward you give them is close to the amount of money you think they can make on a flip. Post on every single internet site that deals in vintage cards. Scour ebay on a daily basis. I can tell you this for certain: some of your cards (my guess is a decent percentage) will turn up.

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>what if you don't have any dough?<br /><br />I look for the five cards I'm looking for 3-4 times a day,<br />and Mark Macrae said you have to look under all possible names, not just the nummerical listing.<br /><br />Although I agree with many that this was definitely an inside job, I did a Google search for Ben Fisher, to see if I could get his address. No, but I did get his e-mail address. from that group he belongs to where people give eachother cards (OBP?). His want list is listed inder "Ben Fisher's Want List." Can you get someone's address from their e-mail address?

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Gary B.</b><p>you might also want to try expanding beyond the Montreal area in terms of contacting card shops, pawn shops, etc. Obviously driving to all of them would be difficult if not impossible, but maybe even just a phone call could make the difference. <br /><br />I say this because it was a valuable enough collection that if the thief was smart, they might realize it would be pretty stupid to try and sell the cards too close by, figuring you'd put the word out - just a suggestion...<br /><br />Peace,<br />Gary

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>ErikV</b><p><br /> Ben and all,<br /><br /> First of all as a fellow vintage card collector, I grieve with you in the loss of your collection. As most of us will agree, our collections are more and mean more than just a bunch of cardboard. It's both many years of work and a labor of love. To have your hard earned money and work taken away like that pains us all.<br /><br /> In a recent post the statement was made "the cops will be of marginal help." The loss of your collection and this statement reminded me of a true story, of which I was a part of. You may find some hope while reading it.<br /><br /> About 15 years ago I went to my local card shop and saw some very attractive 1953 TOPPS cards for sale. I quickly scooped up the Satchel Paige, Bob Feller and Monte Irvin paying around $300.00 for these cards. Within a week I received a phone call from the Sheriff's Department inquiring about these cards. I was told that they were taken in a residential burglary and I was unknowingly in possession of stolen property (a felony here in the state of California.) I was told to bring them into the police station, to which I did. Later, I went back to the shop where I had bought the cards and spoke with the owner. Apparently the kid who sold the cards to the shop had broken into his neighbors house after learning about the dad's card collection. In the end, the cards were returned to their rightful owner and the kid was prosecuted. Wishing you well and for the same happy ending. <br /><br /> Keep the faith Ben!<br /><br /> Erik V.<br /> <br /><br />

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>DMcD</b><p>Ben,<br />The theft of your cards hits home; we are all diminished by your misfortune. I am 6000 miles to your west but I feel like the same bastard is hanging around my neighbourhood.<br /><br />My wife, the naive soul, rolls her eyeballs when I tell her we should take down the artwork and hide the valuables when tradesmen and such strangers are in the house. I haven't told her about the Claymore mine rigged to the safe. Can't be too careful with the old cardboard, those wonderful icons of our youth.<br /><br />The board has nominated everyone except the butler as your perp. Any of the nominees have a drug problem? Drugs and B&E's go hand in hand. My hunch is that the police won't catch the guy. The suggestion of a private investigator was a good one; just make sure he comes well referenced. Ask your lawyer. I employed a PI once via the Yellow Pages. He milked me for a lot of cash for not a lot of results.<br /><br />Stay strong, brah!<br /><br />DMcD<br />Honolulu

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Patrick McMenemy</b><p>Hi Ben:<br /><br />I'm sorry to here about the theft of your collection. I'll keep my eye out for your cards on EBAY, and at any shows that I might attend in Massachusetts. In addition, when I lived in Maine, the only vintage dealer was "Don's Baseball Cards" in Portland, Maine. If you need contact info for his store, let me know.<br /><br />Patrick

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>dennis</b><p>i am so sorry for your loss. i hope it ends on a happy note. my thoughts: seems to me that the thief(thieves)my just be kids.i base this on the fact that which was taken is easily hidden. all other valuables are still there. a person with a vehicle would be inclined to take what ever he could,or is of value.(not just the cards)if you see any kids around,ask them questions,they may want to talk.

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>the(next)level</b><p> Topic Subject OT: Google Your Phone Number<br /> <br />RU4Scuba <br />Sr. Member<br /><br />Total Posts: 3166<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />I normally don't get worked up about this stuff but I Googled my phone number after I read this email and got my name, my wife's name, and a map to our house. Needless to say, I filled out the remove me form. <br /><br />Google has implemented a new feature wherein you can type someone's telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and then you will be given a map to their house. <br /><br />Everyone should be aware of this! <br /><br />Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked. Before forwarding this, I tested it by typing my telephone number in <br />www.google.com. My phone number came up, and when I clicked on the MapQuest link, it actually mapped out where I live. Quite scary. <br />Please look up your own number. Read below for details. <br /><br />Think about it--if a child, ANYONE gives out his/her phone number, someone can actually now look it up to find out where he/she lives. <br /><br />The safety issues are obvious, and alarming. In order to test wheth er your phone number is mapped, go to: <a href="http://www.google.com" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.google.com</a> Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e.555-555-1212) and hit enter. If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information, simply click on phonebook results link above your phone number and scroll down. I removed my name, but it takes 48-hours. <br /><br />If you are unlisted in the phone book, you might not be in there, but it is a good idea just to check. If your number does come up if you hit map, it will show you a direct map to your house... <br /><br />Might want to pass this on to friends and family<br /><br /> <br /> <br />

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Josh K.</b><p>edited to delete post - I found it. <br /><br />Thanks for the responses.

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>There's a whole page of a thread from the board, and my ad in the classified section of Vintage and Classic Baseball Collector, which I've tried in vain to have taken out. There's also a map to our house. Good grief!

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>...........

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Rob L</b><p>Josh and Julie, it's write under the address.<br /><br />It looks like this<br /><br />**********Rancho Santa Margari, CA 92688 - Yahoo! Maps - MapQuest<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />If you would like to have your PhoneBook listing removed, you can do so using our PhoneBook Removal Form.<br /><br /><br />

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Josh K.</b><p>Funny, my didnt have the language about using the phonebook removal form. I had to search for a link in the "about google" link found at the bottom of the page.

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Rob L</b><p>Actually, after you type in your phone number, your info shows up. Click on Phonebook Results above your information and that screen that I posted should show up.

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>tbob</b><p>This is why there will always be a need for a place for discussion of more than simply cards per se. The tip which was provided was invaluable. I plugged in my phone number on Google and there was a map to my frigging house! Unbelievable. I hit the remove button and it said in 48 hours it will be gone. As if I were not paranoid enough after my UPS card loss, Ben's theft and now this...

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>barry arnold</b><p>i just removed my phone # from google, thanks to Josh K..<br />i had to search a bit on the about google portion as Josh suggested.<br />i am paranoid now tbob---the about google page listed other pages folks<br />could get our address via phone number that google has no power over.<br />i think i'll go to ebay and look for some 206's and relax a minute or two.<br /><br />all the best<br />barry<br /><br />

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>ago will get inaccessible..address, map to my house, posts from the board...but--does it work for Canada? I'll try Ben's.<br /><br />HA! It didn't work. I guess you have to be American.

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Richard Dwyer</b><p>I have an unlisted phone number. My number doesn't show an address. <br /><br />But so is Paris Hilton's. Didn't stop the hackers from getting into her sidekick. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

my entire collection was stolen.
 

Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Ben,<br /><br />From what I understand, and I could be missing something, I think it is much more obvious that the thief was someone who knows you or who knows someone who knows you. Certainly there are many people who know about your colection and where you live, or whom could find out easily enough about where you live and I would not discount that entirely. However, if I'm properly reading your posts 1) there was no sign of forced entry, 2) nothing else was taken or disturbed. This person sure seemed to know exactly where your cards were. They did not need to ransack the place to find them. They may also have a key to the apartment. Also remember that when you tell 3-4 friends, they are likely to tell 10-20. There are probably a good many local people who know about your cards. These same people probably know when you are or are not home.<br /><br />Good Luck<br /><br />Bob