A serendipitous turn of events

[williamcohon]

Last night, my friend alerted a local shop - the very one that had been broken into within the last year. The owner said he would keep an eye out for the cards. And he inquired whether my friend was in a position to pay, if the shop owner were able to buy them. My friend agreed.

This morning, the shop owner called to say that he had the cards. My friend will have to pay (but probably about one tenth the cards' value). I think this is a happy ending, inasmuch as getting robbed, and having to pay to get your stuff back can be seen as happy.

[3-2-count]

Tell me the police were contacted by the card shop owner.
They simply walked away???????

[Tao_Moko]

I'm confused. I am not questioning the validity of the story at all but no mention of the authorities at all. Did the shop owner notify the police after buying the cards back and give a description or anything? I would think you could easily steer the thief to handle the plastic card holders and get a fingerprint. Possibly even take a snapshot with his phone to id the individual.

[FrankWakefield]

The shop owner 'bought' cards from someone who didn't own them... the cards should be returned to the owner without the owner paying for that.

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

The shop owner 'bought' cards from someone who didn't own them... the cards should be returned to the owner without the owner paying for that.

This is how I see it should be as well. Plus I'll mention once again. NO POLICE????

[carrigansghost]

Sounds a bit fishy, but glad he got his cards back. I think there will be more to the story.

Rawn

[Leon]

The shop owner should have required positive ID (if he didn't).....bought the cards and called the owner and the police, in tandem. I am no lawyer but generally I don't think title can pass to others when an item is stolen. Title stays with the rightful owner. So your friend should really get the cards back for no money. I agree that something sounds fishy here...

[carrigansghost]

I've sold cards at shows, to others and shops, no one asks for ID, but the shop owner is on the hook for this. Do any of the dealers here ask for ID when buying at shows. He does from the story have a surveillance system. It's up to him to pursue the matter with the seller.

Rawn

[Leon]

Originally Posted by carrigansghost

I've sold cards at shows, to others and shops, no one asks for ID, but the shop owner is on the hook for this. Do any of the dealers here ask for ID when buying at shows. He does from the story have a surveillance system. It's up to him to pursue the matter with the seller.

Rawn

The shop owner knew the seller had stolen items. That changes the complexion completely. He therefore should have known to get some kind of id....

[carrigansghost]

Kkidnapping baseball cards, what's next? I would be calling the police and outing this owner. I hope this is a fabricated event. The owner now becomes part of a potential felony.


Rawn

It don't add up correctly. Will you pay for them and then bam the next day they are brought in to the owner who turns a dime for it. I think the police should question the owner of the shop and look into the robbery of it last yr. I would be very leary. Red flags all around

[williamcohon]

First of all, the police were called, and a report filed immediately. They didn't offer much hope, but they were in the loop from the start.

I don't know the law, but here's how I see it. My friend wanted his cards back, and essentially authorized the purchase by the owner. Had he been reluctant to do so, I imagine the scene would have played out quite differently. Namely, the shop owner would have required positive id (after all, he knew there was a freshly stolen collection out there), and likely not made a purchase at all.

Also, there is a limit to what should be expected of the shop owner, in terms of apprehending the thief. The way it has played out, there is a chance that the thief's image will have been captured on security video. So this may have been the best shot at getting the collection back AND catching the scoundrel.

There's no doubt that my friend should not have to pay to retrieve what is his. But, for his trouble, and perhaps even risk, I don't think the shop owner should be stiffed. When the thief is caught, he will owe my friend the money.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by williamcohon

First of all, the police were called, and a report filed immediately. They didn't offer much hope, but they were in the loop from the start.

I don't know the law, but here's how I see it. My friend wanted his cards back, and essentially authorized the purchase by the owner. Had he been reluctant to do so, I imagine the scene would have played out quite differently. Namely, the shop owner would have required positive id (after all, he knew there was a freshly stolen collection out there), and likely not made a purchase at all.

Also, there is a limit to what should be expected of the shop owner, in terms of apprehending the thief. The way it has played out, there is a chance that the thief's image will have been captured on security video. So this may have been the best shot at getting the collection back AND catching the scoundrel.

There's no doubt that my friend should not have to pay to retrieve what is his. But, for his trouble, and perhaps even risk, I don't think the shop owner should be stiffed. When the thief is caught, he will owe my friend the money.

To me, notwithstanding law, those facts probably do change my view. If your friend made a "contract" with the store owner, while knowing all pertinent facts, then it should be honored and sounds like it either was or will be, which is good. I do hope the thief gets busted and is brought to justice. If we are real fortunate, even conversation on the internet (such as this) could have an impact on the situation.

[carrigansghost]

Risk, Trouble? Guess things work differently in my circle. A neighbor that is 5'6" chased down a thief that was 6', tackled him and held him til the police arrived last month, when asked if he was aware the suspect might have a gun, he said, "It didn't matter, we are a family in this neighborhood".

I hope you will post the resulting arrests in this case.

Rawn

[DJR]

.

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by williamcohon

Last night, my friend alerted a local shop - the very one that had been broken into within the last year. The owner said he would keep an eye out for the cards. And he inquired whether my friend was in a position to pay, if the shop owner were able to buy them. My friend agreed.

This morning, the shop owner called to say that he had the cards. My friend will have to pay (but probably about one tenth the cards' value). I think this is a happy ending, inasmuch as getting robbed, and having to pay to get your stuff back can be seen as happy.

Something smells rotten in Seattle.

[christopher.herman]

Originally Posted by Deertick

Something smells rotten in Seattle.

Agreed.

[tbob]

Originally Posted by Deertick

Something smells rotten in Seattle.

Please out the card shop dealer so I never do business with him on ebay or otherwise. This whole things smells bad. I echo what others have said- the owner should have carefully removed the plastic card holders for fingerprint examination by police, he should have paid by check, etc. I am just amazed the guy had a security camera working, or did he? I also would assume the police were not too happy that they weren't called immediately. One last red flag is that this particular card dealer was broken in to during the last year. Hmmm, can you say "insurance claim?" Maybe because I do a lot of criminal defense work I may be a tad cynical, but this has strangeness written all over it.
tbob

[zljones]

Originally Posted by tbob

Please out the card shop dealer so I never do business with him on ebay or otherwise. This whole things smells bad. I echo what others have said- the owner should have carefully removed the plastic card holders for fingerprint examination by police, he should have paid by check, etc. I am just amazed the guy had a security camera working, or did he? I also would assume the police were not too happy that they weren't called immediately. One last red flag is that this particular card dealer was broken in to during the last year. Hmmm, can you say "insurance claim?" Maybe because I do a lot of criminal defense work I may be a tad cynical, but this has strangeness written all over it.
tbob

+1

[travrosty]

the card shop owner should have looked at the whole box of cards then kept the cards, and told the guy to call the police if he didn't like it.

[Ejm1]

Maybe the shop owner never paid for the cards and the thief is a buddy of his and this was a bascially a kidnapping for cash type of thing? Who knows. Was O.J. Simpson involved?

[smtjoy]

Glad your friend got his cards back and I would recommend him buying a safe asap, someone already knows what he has and has stolen it once, or consider a bank safety deposit box. Leaving valuable cards around the house in a box is asking for trouble, even if insured.