Amazing Story- Crooks didnt take Pre-War material??

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Posted By: Neal

1952 Topps Set, Other Cards Stolen in Florida
Share This Story?Tuesday, 18 March 2008

It took crooks about six minutes to rob Dan Williams of the shining star in his sports card shop--a $100,000 heist that's left him devastated.
Dan's Sports Cards in Orange Park, Florida was a busy place on Monday. Reporters, TV cameras and curious customers stopped by the store. But it wasn't because someone walked in with a T206 Honus Wagner.

Long-time shop owner and collector Dan Williams had been the victim of an overnight break-in that resulted in the theft of $100,000 worth of vintage baseball cards including a complete 1952 Topps baseball set. The Mickey Mantle card alone was worth at least $30,000 according to Williams, who also lost a 1963 Fleer set, a stash of 1960s Post Cereal cards and hundreds of other items which had been sitting in three showcases near the checkout.

Williams received a call around 3 AM Monday from his security company and went immediately to the shop's location but the thieves were already gone. He estimates it took about six minutes to complete the theft. A cinder block was used to smash the glass front door after power was cut to the store.

Williams believes the crime was masterminded by someone who had been in the shop before. Police are hoping nearby surveillance cameras stationed elsewhere in the strip mall on Kingsley Avenue may have caught some clues that will help them solve the case.

It could have been worse. Video shows a nearby case containing pre-War vintage material including T206, Turkey Red and Goudey cards was apparently untouched.

Williams told reporters his insurance will cover only a portion of the loss. "It's a major setback," he told a Jacksonville TV station. "This wasn't just merchandise. It's stuff I love."

Williams is offering a $1,000 reward and First Coast Crime Stoppers is accepting information on the case at 1-866-845-TIPS.

Can watch Clip also!

http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/latest/1952-topps-set-other-cards-stolen-in-florida.html

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Posted By: Richard S. Simon

Sometimes the good guys win one.
The thief was caught and the cards recovered.
http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/latest/stolen-baseball-cards-recovered-suspect-arrested.html
--

I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.
Unknown author
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We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.
No retreat baby, no surrender.
The Boss

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Posted By: Scott Sarian

Great to see the cards were returned. Interesting to see how the owner had been storing a '52 set. Hopefully going forawrd he'll take better care of the Mantle rookie than in a Card Saver I left in a display case in a strip mall....

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Posted By: Matt

I also was surprised to see a nice '52 Mantle in a Card Saver. I understand some people don't want to slab their stuff (although if he has it for sale, that would seem a bad decision) but at least put it into something rigid.

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Posted By: Paul Moss

If that 52T Mantle is worth 30K, then I'm the King of Greenland.

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

1. Glad he got his cards back.

2. I understand why his insurance company was not inclined to pay out what he wanted.

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Posted By: JimB

I don't have a problem with the cardsaver so much as leaving cards that valuable in the display cases rather than putting them in a big safe at night. If I had a shop, there would be a big safe in the back where I would keep everything of value when I was not there. I am very glad this story ended well.
JimB

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Posted By: Tony Galovich

The owner of this card shop is the bozo of the month

great security at his shop, did he ever think of getting a safe for the good stuff?

52 mantle in a card saver, guess he hasn't heard of grading or waiting to see if that grading thing catches on with the hobby

$30K? Another dreamer who hasn't a clue as to current market values

he is lucky the thief is a bigger bozo than he is

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Posted By: Anthony S.

That $30,000 price tag on the Mantle was for the insurance value if that meddling cop hadn't actually caught the thief and gummed the whole thing up.