Theft at Philly Show

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I did hear about it, though I forget who the victim was. Apparently the classic 2 guys distraction ploy.

Hopefully they were caught on video, although I guess so far that hasn't solved the Dallas case as far as we know.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Even more incentive as a dealer to stay home and do your business completely online.

With the huge amounts of cash behind dealer tables at shows, these thieves may eventually start weighing the logic of robbing dealers for their money as opposed to items which have to be fenced. Cards have many different ways to be identified; cash does not.

Just one of countless reasons why I'd never set up at a show again. I've done enough of that to last me several lifetimes. What was fun over 30 years ago is today my idea of a horrible way to spend a weekend. Not interested in the torture of getting cornered into long conversations with people who don't spend a dime while a potential sale walks away, let alone the increasing risk of theft or robbery.

[Zach Wheat]

The day will come when dealers at shows won't bring expensive cards to shows anymore.

[parkplace33]

I heard the same thing.

This is now a trend at major (and some small) shows. Be very vigilant out there. Especially to and from shows.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

The day will come when dealers at shows won't bring expensive cards to shows anymore.

Or they will hire some professional security help.

[NYYFan63]

There was security walking the show floor but I only saw 1-2 security guards/cops.

[FromVAtoLA]

This thread has devolved, but a question for folks who are dealers. Is it common to hide an airtag in each of your cases, boxes, luggage, etc? It wouldn't prevent a single card from being stolen, but if there's a smash and grab or someone grabs a case like they did in Dallas then you could immediately open your phone and show the cops where your items are. They are like $20 bucks each so it seems pretty cheap relative to the value of your inventory.

[ClementeFanOh]

FromVAtoLA- You, sir, hit the nail on the head. Once again, a determined
minority of attention-starved posters deliberately derailed the thread. It is
common on this board, sadly enough...

Adam/Exhibitman- Thanks for your rational reply, amazing what happens
when a couple people manage to stay on a directly stated point. For the
record, I am very well aware that most folks can't hit the broad side of a
barn under pressure. I have not, am not, and will not advocate for a card
show to look like a GTA mission. I'd much prefer that show promoters
announce the presence of uniformed or plain clothes LE at shows, that
entering folks see a camera at the only entry point, and that sellers and
customers alike take active steps to minimize chances for thieves to act.
Maybe an observant thief notices a concealed carry bulge under a dealer's
shirt and decides to try his luck elsewhere as well- no harm at all in that. I
don't have Eastwood style fantasies about guns at shows, my vision is much
more docile than that- every party taking a role to make it hard on the
thieves who should be the focus of this thread, for example. If some sellers
opt to conceal a weapon for safety there's no need for Constitutional Law
class beforehand- it's up to that person to know what he's about. Judging by
the utter absence of news about dealers/buyers cranking rounds off at shows
because someone made off with their cards, I'd say most people already
grasp this concept.

NotSmart- I've attended shows since 1981 and greatly enjoyed myself at
practically all of them. No cards stolen, zero shots fired. I notice you still
haven't contributed to the actual thread. Good luck with 1911 as an ally.
Such an..."interesting" choice.

Trent King

[G1911]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

3) Again, the mere presence of a weapon might well persuade a bad guy
to try someone else. "An armed society is a polite society".

Originally Posted by G1911

3) How is the presence of a concealed firearm going to deter a criminal unless it is first drawn? Read your previous post? Again, it would not have changed any of these cases. I am all in favor of carrying a gun, but it is not for these kinds of thefts.

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

3) If you really need to be told how a presence of a weapon- concealed or
not- may deter a person with criminal intent, you don't belong in this
chat. (Maybe start with a Google search for "open carry", if you can
manage it).

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

Maybe an observant thief notices a concealed carry bulge under a dealer's
shirt and decides to try his luck elsewhere as well- no harm at all in that. I
don't have Eastwood style fantasies about guns at shows, my vision is much
more docile than that- every party taking a role to make it hard on the
thieves who should be the focus of this thread, for example. If some sellers
opt to conceal a weapon for safety there's no need for Constitutional Law
class beforehand- it's up to that person to know what he's about. Judging by
the utter absence of news about dealers/buyers cranking rounds off at shows
because someone made off with their cards, I'd say most people already
grasp this concept.

At least we have backed off the open carry let's show off our guns to intimate people at card shows lunacy. Now it is strictly concealed - and hopefully a potential thief sees our bulges and is intimidated so he doesn't try anything.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by G1911

At least we have backed off the open carry let's show off our guns to intimate people at card shows lunacy. Now it is strictly concealed - and hopefully a potential thief sees our bulges and is intimidated so he doesn't try anything.

It feels like Yogi time -- I never said half the things I said.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It feels like Yogi time -- I never said half the things I said.

Sir I know not what you mean. I merely ran with his new idea that an observant thief will be intimidated and scared off by checking out the dealers bulge, instead of openly displaying his piece to the whole show.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by G1911

Sir I know not what you mean. I merely ran with his new idea that an observant thief will be intimidated and scared off by checking out the dealers bulge, instead of openly displaying his piece to the whole show.

I always check for bulges before attempting thefts, myself.

[notfast]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

FromVAtoLA- You, sir, hit the nail on the head. Once again, a determined
minority of attention-starved posters deliberately derailed the thread. It is
common on this board, sadly enough...

Adam/Exhibitman- Thanks for your rational reply, amazing what happens
when a couple people manage to stay on a directly stated point. For the
record, I am very well aware that most folks can't hit the broad side of a
barn under pressure. I have not, am not, and will not advocate for a card
show to look like a GTA mission. I'd much prefer that show promoters
announce the presence of uniformed or plain clothes LE at shows, that
entering folks see a camera at the only entry point, and that sellers and
customers alike take active steps to minimize chances for thieves to act.
Maybe an observant thief notices a concealed carry bulge under a dealer's
shirt and decides to try his luck elsewhere as well- no harm at all in that. I
don't have Eastwood style fantasies about guns at shows, my vision is much
more docile than that- every party taking a role to make it hard on the
thieves who should be the focus of this thread, for example. If some sellers
opt to conceal a weapon for safety there's no need for Constitutional Law
class beforehand- it's up to that person to know what he's about. Judging by
the utter absence of news about dealers/buyers cranking rounds off at shows
because someone made off with their cards, I'd say most people already
grasp this concept.

NotSmart- I've attended shows since 1981 and greatly enjoyed myself at
practically all of them. No cards stolen, zero shots fired. I notice you still
haven't contributed to the actual thread. Good luck with 1911 as an ally.
Such an..."interesting" choice.

Trent King

I’d be embarrassed to be old enough to have attended shows for 40 years and still name call on the internet.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by notfast

I’d be embarrassed to be old enough to have attended shows for 40 years and still name call on the internet.

Call us curmudgeons, but some of us are proud of the edge we've gained through experience!

[Exhibitman]

It's not a bulge, it's the pants.

[MikeGarcia]

.. TRAVESTY !! Y'all know the rules :




..

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

look like a GTA mission.
Trent King

Totally off-point, but when I hear GTA I think of Thanksgiving. One of my fondest Thanksgiving memories involves GTA. One year, at my sister-in-law's big dinner, my nephew and his cousins were playing GTA in the den. My sister-in-law came in and told them to stop because "it's not appropriate right now." I asked my wife "Not appropriate right now?!?!? When is it ever appropriate?"