Dealers at the national

[rainier2004]

I think this crowd is waaaay too honest. I have never stolen from the show, nor would I ever, but there are way to many ways to get away with cards from a dealer. What about asking to see a "stack" of cards, someone distracts the dealer, and you just take a couple from the pile? I mean Ive waiting several minutes just to hand backs thousands of dollars worth of cards to a dealer b/c he isn't paying attention.
First and foremost, the dealers need to take responsibility. Secondly, there does need to be some sort of police presence at the show and maybe that's 2 cops each walking around all day. Third, why aren't there are a few guys in plain clothes that simply watch...Id love to do that and for free, just give me a walkie. Lastly, we as collectors should watch out for everyone, when I was a kid I caught someone stealing a Bench rookie and that dealer got in his face very quickly as the card was gone...I watched him slip into his book. This is our hobby and thievery just sucks. No thief could ever be sure that no eyes are on them. I am very shocked that six-figures worth of cards don't come up missing every year.

[ReefBlue]

Originally Posted by rainier2004

I am very shocked that six-figures worth of cards don't come up missing every year.

Overall, at a big show, I bet it happens.

When you go past a dealer that has a case with 50 rubber banded stacks inside, there is zero point zero chance he knows what are in those stacks. Then multiply that by half a dozen cases on his table.

When he gets home, he doesn't know if anything is missing.

[travrosty]

the pickpockets and thieves congregate whether valuable and a lot of people congregate, its what they do. super bowl, wherever. they all look like nice guys but you dont know who is the crook. that is what they count on. some are alone but some work in teams, they misdirect, get your attention elsewhere, then palm and gone.

[vintagecpa]

Perhaps stealing the idea from Bait Car or Catch a Predator would help reduce the issue. security should set up a dealer table with tempting high-dollar items that are relatively easy to steal. The table would be monitored with hidden cameras and security ready to apprehend anyone stealing. All it would take is one very public arrest to make every other thief think twice about stealing at the show.

[olrac44]

I don't think the promoters can be responsible for how a dealer conducts himself/herself and how they handle the inventory at their table.

How does a dealer lose a 52 Mantle, anyway? If it's in a showcase, the showcase should be locked. If the dealer shows someone the card, why would they take their eyes off of that card?

[Jewish-collector]

Probably someone opened the case while he was distracted. Dealers' cases should always be locked.

[rainier2004]

I heard of a scam a couple years ago at the National used to steal entire binder/sets. The thief is carrying around what appears to be large count box of cards, with a false bottom and nothing inside. At some point the thief places the box down over a binder/set of cards. When they pick it back up the box has the binder in it and off they go. I like bait table idea...