[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by gregndodgers

If I were Ash, I would not rely solely on the police to recover the cards. A systematic process can be used to find the cards. What would that process look like?

1. Notify every single card shop in the US that cards have been stolen and provide photos of them, particularly the 52 Mantles, the Shoeless Joe cards, etc. Ask that the card shop owners notify police if they discover a stolen card.
2. Do the same with every pawn shop.
3. Notify and monitor all the on line card markets (comc, pwcc, FB , eBay, Craig’s list, etc) monitor these markets rigorously.
4. Contact the organizers of all card shows. Provide photos of all stolen cards.
5. Contact all of the major grading companies. Maybe they can screen certain card submissions including the higher profile cards such as the 52 Mantles, the Shoeless Joe cards, etc.
6. Notify the media in all large metro areas. Ask that they do a story about the theft.

What other steps can be taken?

IMO, vintage cards, including many that were stolen from Ash, are not put up for sale that often. Card shop owners regularly tell me that collectors are holding onto their vintage, so they don’t see a lot of vintage coming into their stores. Hence, rigorous monitoring and communicating could be the key to recovering some, if not all, of these stolen cards.

In theory that would be the way and would love have something in place (ie stolen data base of cards etc for people to easily check)to do it a few obstacles
1. Since they do not come in shop many could be sold on the black market into private collectors that may never see light of day (ie stolen art and antiques)
2. There are just so many shops, venues, shows, etc
3. How diligent will everyone be in all these places when buying these or other cards that are reported.