Massive theft at Dallas card show, Nearly 2 Million Dollars worth of cards stolen

[gregndodgers]

Originally Posted by raulus

Your theory is certainly possible.

It just seems like you're introducing a whole lot of co-conspirators into the process, which dramatically increases the likelihood of detection.

The buyers don't know they are stolen.

For example, there is a card shop I know of that has a reputation - among a small community of collectors in my area - for dealing in stolen cards. He gets some really amazing cards...Babe Ruths, Cobbs, Michael Jordan's - all high end stuff. I always wondered how he always had such great inventory until one day another card shop owner said he sells hot cards. Well, I know for a fact that as soon as a great card walks in the door, that unscrupulous shop owner already has a buyer for the card. In fact, he has a network of high end collectors that routinely buy from him. They spend thousands each month. One quick phone call, and the card has been re-sold.

Once I figured this out, I stopped going to his shop.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by gregndodgers

The buyers don't know they are stolen.

For example, there is a card shop I know of that has a reputation - among a small community of collectors in my area - for dealing in stolen cards. He gets some really amazing cards...Babe Ruths, Cobbs, Michael Jordan's - all high end stuff. I always wondered how he always had such great inventory until one day another card shop owner said he sells hot cards. Well, I know for a fact that as soon as a great card walks in the door, that unscrupulous shop owner already has a buyer for the card. In fact, he has a network of high end collectors that routinely buy from him. They spend thousands each month. One quick phone call, and the card has been re-sold.

Once I figured this out, I stopped going to his shop.

So there's a constant supply of stolen high end cards being sold in plain sight and this all just goes under the radar?

[gregndodgers]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

So there's a constant supply of stolen high end cards being sold in plain sight and this all just goes under the radar?

Yea, is that so surprising? Of course, the guy is smart and takes precautions. He does not ask any questions when he buys the cards, and he quickly sells them. In fact, I would think that even he does not know they are stolen.

One day, I was in the unscrupulous shop, and I heard the shop owner receive two calls in a span of 30 minutes. Both were from people who live out of town and were "just traveling through the area," and they had some high end cards to sell. One was a raw Jordan RC. The shop owner told him to bring it in. Now, I don't know for sure that the Jordan was stolen, but when a non-local person "just travelling through" comes into your store with a high end card (and perhaps sells it for 25% of book), then it begs the question of whether the card is stolen.

Hence, when I say he deals in hot cards, what I'm really saying is that he does not ask any questions when he buys even though he probably should.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by gregndodgers

Yea, is that so surprising? Of course, the guy is smart and takes precautions. He does not ask any questions when he buys the cards, and he quickly sells them. In fact, I would think that even he does not know they are stolen.

One day, I was in the unscrupulous shop, and I heard the shop owner receive two calls in a span of 30 minutes. Both were from people who live out of town and were "just traveling through the area," and they had some high end cards to sell. One was a raw Jordan RC. The shop owner told him to bring it in. Now, I don't know for sure that the Jordan was stolen, but when a non-local person "just travelling through" comes into your store with a high end card (and perhaps sells it for 25% of book), then it begs the question of whether the card is stolen.

Hence, when I say he deals in hot cards, what I'm really saying is that he does not ask any questions when he buys even though he probably should.

Have you considered alerting the authorities?

[gregndodgers]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Have you considered alerting the authorities?

I have, but at the end of the day, I have zero evidence. Only strong suspicion and hearsay. I have a house and a family, so I cannot take the chance that what I say could come back and bite me if you know what I mean.