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

[sflayank]

I have a question? What was their plan b?
They waited all day..how did they know whoever took the cards out of the display cases would put the cards in the carrying case and leave it on the floor?..if that person simply took the case with him.to the parking lot or just to his workers waiting for them to finish packing etc..what was the plan b?

[raulus]

Originally Posted by sflayank

I have a question? What was their plan b?
They waited all day..how did they know whoever took the cards out of the display cases would put the cards in the carrying case and leave it on the floor?..if that person simply took the case with him.to the parking lot or just to his workers waiting for them to finish packing etc..what was the plan b?

Walk away and try again at the next show?

[packs]

Yeah. Theft is usually a crime of opportunity. No opportunity, no theft. The Plan B stuff is usually reserved for higher concept or more sensitive thefts than baseball cards.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by packs

Yeah. Theft is usually a crime of opportunity. No opportunity, no theft. The Plan B stuff is usually reserved for higher concept or more sensitive thefts than baseball cards.

True, but I would characterize this theft as being a $2,000,000 heist, not "just baseball cards." I still agree, no plan B other than walk away.

However, when the cards themselves, with various minor defects and imperfections, are almost as identifiable as fingerprints, they won't get anything close to full retail.

[CobbSpikedMe]

Ok, I've read the thread and I've seen several posts about having some sort of private security hired to watch a dealer's inventory at all times. This was the first thing I thought of when I heard about the theft initially. Why would you go to a show with $2M worth of cards (in just ONE case) let alone all the other inventory you have at your table and not spend the money to have people behind your table whose sole purpose for being there is to watch your stuff?!

Sure, it would add to your show overhead, but the peace of mind would be worth it. And with that inventory, you could make one sale and pay for the security for the whole weekend from it.

I know Ash is a great guy and dealer and hope all works out for him, but I find myself torn between feeling bad about this and feeling upset that he didn't have this type of security at his table. Am I alone here or do any of you guys find yourselves in the same boat as me?

ETA: Of course, I feel bad about it, but I'm still upset security wasn't there.

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[campyfan39]

Really hope they are caught and expect they will be.

Random question for dealers.... How can some guy stack chairs "for over an hour" and nobody from the building being rented or officials ask him what he is doing or who he is?

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by CobbSpikedMe

Ok, I've read the thread and I've seen several posts about having some sort of private security hired to watch a dealer's inventory at all times. This was the first thing I thought of when I heard about the theft initially. Why would you go to a show with $2M worth of cards (in just ONE case) let alone all the other inventory you have at your table and not spend the money to have people behind your table whose sole purpose for being there is to watch your stuff?!

Sure, it would add to your show overhead, but the peace of mind would be worth it. And with that inventory, you could make one sale and pay for the security for the whole weekend from it.

I know Ash is a great guy and dealer and hope all works out for him, but I find myself torn between feeling bad about this and feeling upset that he didn't have this type of security at his table. Am I alone here or do any of you guys find yourselves in the same boat as me?

ETA: Of course, I feel bad about it, but I'm still upset security wasn't there.

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He had done hundreds of shows over the years without an issue until this particular one as far as I know.

He set up beside me in Boston last year at the Shriner's show and had one young helper with him but it was not his son but a close family friend.

Ashish walked the show a lot but the young man did a great job of protecting his inventory.

His son was doing a Dallas show the same weekend so he obviously did not have all of his inventory in Boston but one showcase had $250K based on his stickers and he had 12 showcases with all graded cards.

Yes, probably if he had more security this would not have happened but this was not his first rodeo.

It is what it is. He is a nice guy who has been robbed. That should be our focus.

Any comments detrimental to him are a shame IMO. Mistakes and oversights happen no matter the care taken.

I hope his inventory is found intact and returned to him and he can turn the corner with his business.

I'm sure tighter safeguards will be in place at future shows.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Ok, this won't go over well with most, but so it goes. Of course, everyone here feels horribly for Ashish, hates the thieves, and wants nothing more than that they be caught and the cards recovered. That all goes without saying.

But nobody has died here, this isn't a funeral, I don't see why people have to tiptoe delicately and avoid talking about how this happened. It's human nature to ask questions when stuff happens. And it seems to me most of the comments are fair. I'm not great with video but as far as I can tell a case with a million dollars or more of cards was just sitting down at the far end of a booth with multiple tables, no one was anywhere close to it even before the distractor guys came along. Obviously hindsight is 20 20, but I think the comments have been fair and not malicious or disrespectful in any way.

[CobbSpikedMe]

Originally Posted by rand1com

He had done hundreds of shows over the years without an issue until this particular one as far as I know.

He set up beside me in Boston last year at the Shriner's show and had one young helper with him but it was not his son but a close family friend.

Ashish walked the show a lot but the young man did a great job of protecting his inventory.

His son was doing a Dallas show the same weekend so he obviously did not have all of his inventory in Boston but one showcase had $250K based on his stickers and he had 12 showcases with all graded cards.

Yes, probably if he had more security this would not have happened but this was not his first rodeo.

It is what it is. He is a nice guy who has been robbed. That should be our focus.

Any comments detrimental to him are a shame IMO. Mistakes and oversights happen no matter the care taken.

I hope his inventory is found intact and returned to him and he can turn the corner with his business.

I'm sure tighter safeguards will be in place at future shows.

Didn't think I said anything detrimental to Ash in my post tbh. I even said he was a good guy and dealer and that I did feel bad for him. I think it's great he's never had this problem at all the other shows he's done in the past, but he was lucky it didn't happen sooner with no security around. I mean, $2M in one case? Not to mention all the other inventory at the table. I do feel bad for him and hope these guys rot in hell for this, but my point is simple, pay for the security when you have that much money at you're table.



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