Safeguards at shows

[ClementeFanOh]

Vintagedeputy-

I know for a fact that, at Ohio State home football games in 2023, there was
a shortage of police for security (extra-duty not on-duty). Prospective officers
were offered $100 per hour, and spots went unfilled.

Again, I'm not saying it's a bad idea to have an increase in uniformed
LE at appropriate shows. I'm merely pointing to the cost, and the proclivity
of sellers on this board to grouse about- you guessed it-costs.

Trent King

[JustinD]

Security is a nice feel good measure but unlikely to make drastic change. Let’s be honest, most of these happen when someone is distracted, busy or other. If if have 10s of thousands, 100s or even as described millions in merchandise I want descriptions and identifying info. Six cheap nest cams should cover any table well. Two focused on my table top at each side, two facing the crowd for faces and two in the rear of my booth facing outward. I want 100s of frames of film to post if anything comes up missing.

As for personal protection, other than doing your best for a connecting hotel and traveling with another set of eyes there’s not much more to be done. Other than Cleveland, the national is held in locations in which even providing yourself protection will get you more time than anyone would serve if they robbed you. I am a personal protection person, but no way my CPL is worth trying anywhere but Ohio. I sure as hell am not protecting myself in Chicago without losing my freedom for years even if I am in the right.

We can yell for police all you want, but the best thing is just evidence and not believing they are magically going to be everywhere.

[Steve_NY]

I am very concerned about theft -- and setting up a booth at the National is always a challenge.

I now LOCK all of my showcases -- and I don't allow anyone to remove a card from my binders. I personally remove all cards and wrappers from my binders. Obviously, I lose customers that way but guess what -- I don't lose cards or wrappers that way.

It's very sad that a high percentage of the large thefts are so called friends that you allow to review your items with limited supervsion. Those are the ones you have to watch out for.

I even had a collector who had asked if my wife could watch his daughter so she was distracted while he stole an expensive pack.

I hope the National will do more overnight security this year. If you walk around the show after it is closed, I always find collectors walking around at almost 6:30 when they should have left the room a half hour before.

Any one have other security ideas for booth holders?

Steve_NY

[Vintagedeputy]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

Vintagedeputy-

I know for a fact that, at Ohio State home football games in 2023, there was
a shortage of police for security (extra-duty not on-duty). Prospective officers
were offered $100 per hour, and spots went unfilled.

Again, I'm not saying it's a bad idea to have an increase in uniformed
LE at appropriate shows. I'm merely pointing to the cost, and the proclivity
of sellers on this board to grouse about- you guessed it-costs.

Trent King

I’m actually not surprised that even at $100 per hour, there was difficulty in finding officers. Officers these days have a wealth of opportunities - no pun intended - for off duty work as well as overtime. They generally look for really easy jobs with low chances of there being problems or having to make a arrest.

Having worked college football games before myself, I can imagine that many officers would try to stay away from those details because they can get rowdy and out of hand.

[G1911]

Be attentive and vigilant is really all that can be done.

Cops or more cops wandering around wouldn't have likely stopped either theft. They aren't forceful seizures followed by an obvious perp running away and needing to be chased by the law. The Strongsville theft in particular is not something any show could have reasonably done anything to prevent (short of the possessor having the basic common sense not to mail millions in cards to a Best Western...).

Being armed also would not stop either incident or any realistic card show theft either, and if a dealer did use a weapon that they would almost certainly go to jail for drawing on a non-violent thief in a public place. Carrying a firearm is for extreme threats, not a guy taking a case at a show in a room full of people in all directions.

Watching your stuff or having someone you trust watch your stuff and being aware of your surroundings is about all one can do when in a public place with expensive things.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by G1911

Being armed also would not stop either incident or any realistic card show theft either, and if a dealer did use a weapon that they would almost certainly go to jail for drawing on a non-violent thief in a public place. Carrying a firearm is for extreme threats, not a guy taking a case at a show in a room full of people in all directions.
.

That would be a given. If you are responding to my comment, it was directed to Scott’s post above of being followed to motels or home in his worst example.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by G1911

Be attentive and vigilant is really all that can be done.

Cops or more cops wandering around wouldn't have likely stopped either theft. They aren't forceful seizures followed by an obvious perp running away and needing to be chased by the law. The Strongsville theft in particular is not something any show could have reasonably done anything to prevent (short of the possessor having the basic common sense not to mail millions in cards to a Best Western...).

Being armed also would not stop either incident or any realistic card show theft either, and if a dealer did use a weapon that they would almost certainly go to jail for drawing on a non-violent thief in a public place. Carrying a firearm is for extreme threats, not a guy taking a case at a show in a room full of people in all directions.

Watching your stuff or having someone you trust watch your stuff and being aware of your surroundings is about all one can do when in a public place with expensive things.

Having visible security around at the end of the Dallas show may have helped prevent the theft since more eyes watching may have made the thieves less likely to try anything.

[ajenks3378]

I own a small business in the western suburbs of Cleveland…and in our community to hire auxiliary police officers it costs $125 an hour.
So I am sure The National is spending some good money on security.
Andy

[Johnny630]

My number one proposal for extra security measures would be for all attendees of these major shows to produce an official government photo ID, driver's license/passport, and or VA card. Doing this would be an added cost-effective security measure that would be able to identify everyone who has made entry into the show. I would also utilize a timestamp.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

My number one proposal for extra security measures would be for all attendees of these major shows to produce an official government photo ID, driver's license/passport, and or VA card. Doing this would be an added cost-effective security measure that would be able to identify everyone who has made entry into the show. I would also utilize a timestamp.

No thanks.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

My number one proposal for extra security measures would be for all attendees of these major shows to produce an official government photo ID, driver's license/passport, and or VA card. Doing this would be an added cost-effective security measure that would be able to identify everyone who has made entry into the show. I would also utilize a timestamp.

When you say produce an ID, do you also mean that the show would keep a record of everyone who was there? If so, I can imagine that would discourage a lot of people who want to protect their privacy from attending.