Lessons learned

[danski496]

Hi - My name is Dan Sczechowski and I've been a regular viewer and buyer on the B/S/T section for awhile now. I reside in Douglassville, PA. I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right spot or not. I wanted to let everybody know that either the week prior to the SuperBowl or on SuperBowl weekend (maybe earlier than that) over $25k of sports cards were stolen out of my house. The main reason I'm posting this thread is to provide a couple of lessons learned over this loss. I didn't have pictures of my sports cards, the cards stolen were a four column box of very valuable cards. There were Mickey Mantle's cards that I was putting together from 1958-1969 (every base card with the exception of 1962), many Mays, Musial, Campanella, Clemente, etc. cards from the 50's-70's. I immediately contacted the police and put in a report, solicited my neighbors, handed out fliers, contacted local auction houses and am still checking ebay, craigslist and this website on a daily basis. I'm pretty sure they're gone forever.

I did not have pictures of my cards, my insurance company would not cover the loss because their was no proof that I owned the cards. The value of the cards were $25-50K with a sell value of $12-15K based on condition, etc.

Ensure you take pictures of all your cards and memorabilia or if you are already insuring your collection make sure the insurance company really knows what you have.

Secure your collectibles.

Install security alarms or cameras, I didn't have any...but do now.

I should have posted this sooner but am a pretty private individual. If somebody attempts to sell you a collection with 10-20 cards of each hall of famer that played in the 50's-70's please keep me in mind.

I am a Christian and am a forgiving person, I'll leave the individual go and let them answer to the man some day if they would bring them back. Honestly, I would not even prosecute if they were given back. I would prosecute if I found them at an auction house or some other avenue though. If you have any information, or have seen a collection like this, or somebody has offered them to you, please let me know. I know others have collections like this. But, each of us know what we have and I know I would know if they were mine or not just by seeing them, they were collected for the past 20 years or so with my hard earned money. My fingerprints would be all over the box and card holders, etc.

There were also a lot of autographs taken as well, I collect autographs ttm...

God Bless,
Dan

[39special]

Dan,sorry to hear that.I live in Mohrsville not to far from you.I go to alot of the local flea markets looking for '50's- '70's cards mainly.If you want to pm me and give me a better idea what you had,I'll keep my eye out for you.
Steve

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by danski496

Hi - My name is Dan Sczechowski and I've been a regular viewer and buyer on the B/S/T section for awhile now. I reside in Douglassville, PA. I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right spot or not. I wanted to let everybody know that either the week prior to the SuperBowl or on SuperBowl weekend (maybe earlier than that) over $25k of sports cards were stolen out of my house. The main reason I'm posting this thread is to provide a couple of lessons learned over this loss. I didn't have pictures of my sports cards, the cards stolen were a four column box of very valuable cards. There were Mickey Mantle's cards that I was putting together from 1958-1969 (every base card with the exception of 1962), many Mays, Musial, Campanella, Clemente, etc. cards from the 50's-70's. I immediately contacted the police and put in a report, solicited my neighbors, handed out fliers, contacted local auction houses and am still checking ebay, craigslist and this website on a daily basis. I'm pretty sure they're gone forever.

I did not have pictures of my cards, my insurance company would not cover the loss because their was no proof that I owned the cards. The value of the cards were $25-50K with a sell value of $12-15K based on condition, etc.

Ensure you take pictures of all your cards and memorabilia or if you are already insuring your collection make sure the insurance company really knows what you have.

Secure your collectibles.

Install security alarms or cameras, I didn't have any...but do now.

I should have posted this sooner but am a pretty private individual. If somebody attempts to sell you a collection with 10-20 cards of each hall of famer that played in the 50's-70's please keep me in mind.

I am a Christian and am a forgiving person, I'll leave the individual go and let them answer to the man some day if they would bring them back. Honestly, I would not even prosecute if they were given back. I would prosecute if I found them at an auction house or some other avenue though. If you have any information, or have seen a collection like this, or somebody has offered them to you, please let me know. I know others have collections like this. But, each of us know what we have and I know I would know if they were mine or not just by seeing them, they were collected for the past 20 years or so with my hard earned money. My fingerprints would be all over the box and card holders, etc.

There were also a lot of autographs taken as well, I collect autographs ttm...

God Bless,
Dan

Dan,
That's a horrible story and I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

Thanks for the advice. As collectors, hearing about things like this are very sobering and appreciated by all on net54....

I hope that you get lucky and somebody catches these crooks!

[johnmh71]

Dan:

That is that worst nightmare of anyone on this site outside of their collection getting destroyed. I am sorry to read about your loss and I hope you get the cards back.

I would focus on local card shops and maybe even pawn shops as well. Whoever took them is probably going to look to unload them quick and those are the quickest avenues.

[canjond]

Dan- sorry to hear about the theft. I also understand trying to balance your privacy with also getting the word out. One thing that may be helpful is to post a complete list, or at least some of the key cards (maybe any identifying marks/condition if you remember) for the whole board. There are a ton of members here and surprisingly, our collective memories are pretty good. You never know if someone might see one of the cards you post/describe. It may lead nowhere if the cards are generic, but you never know.

[Jay Wolt]

Dan, that stinks!
Send me your address via a PM and I'll send out some cards & autographs your way....jay

[travrosty]

Dan, a couple of questions if not too personal.

Did they take anything else or just go right for the cards?

Do you think they were strangers or people who might have been in the house before and knew where to go?

Do you think the cards were the main target or they were just going for anything of value and stumbled across them?

Sorry to hear you got ripped off, and I hope they get caught.

ins. companies usually require special ins. for collectibles and collections, with at least a list of what you have and sometimes they will come and appraise it. But clear pictures and complete inventory is the best way to go.

There are also special ins. companies outside of homeowner ins. companies that insure collections.

[brownscollector78]

As the song goes, lessons learned they sure run deep..they don't go away and they don't come cheap.

Sorry for your loss

[GrayGhost]

Very sorry for your loss Dan. Part of the problem w this world is it sucks very bad at times. I really hope you get your cards back and things improve for you.

[Ladder7]

Great advice!.. I have some 50s stuff. Yours if u want it. Shoot me a pm. Best of luck

[Leon]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune Dan but thanks for sharing. It could help out other collectors and it's appreciated. To further the cause I copied it to the main card side too. Hopefully (I know it's a long shot) your cards will be recovered. best regards

[carrigansghost]

I agree with the security, 1800lb. maglock if any of the cases get within range of the door. I have some 50's stuff also that is yours to try to help rebuild your collection.

Rawn

[olsport]

Very sorry to hear about your loss. The worst part about card theft is, how can you tell your cards from anyone elses? They are a mass produced item that have thousands of identical ones out there. I often thought about putting a mark on the back of cards that could only be detected by black light, to make my cards unique and identifiable.

[danski496]

Thanks guys, I'm not sure if I'm answering everybody's question or not so I if I missed any please PM me.

The 4 column box was full of nothing but hall of famers, primarily from the 50's and 60's but some 70's scattered througout. I was initially incorrect, I did not have a 1958 base Mickey Mantle.
1958 Mantle AS EX+/NM
1959 Mantle EX+/NM
1960 Mantle EX/EX+
1961 Mantle VG+/EX
1962 Mantle AS Slight paper loss right corner, chipping left side F/G
1963 Mantle VG
1964 Mantle EX+
1965 Mantle EX+
1966 Mantle EX+
1967 Mantle EX+
1968 Mantle Topps Game NM
1969 Mantle VG
League Leader Cards, etc, - can't remember (had a lot), I know I had at least three 1965 league leaders in there, all in EX or better condition..........

I tried to be picky and spent more for quality than quantity (after I initially started buying junk lots for the first few years) on most of my cards. There were approximately 20 different Willie Mays, primarily 60's, all in VG+ or better condition, also had 68 topps game and 69 deckle in there.

There were approximately 30-40 different Hank Aaron cards, primarily 60's but there were 10 or so 70's in there. Couple dupes of his '72 cards which are easily obtained when they're lesser condition. Also had 68 topps game and 69 deckle card in there and 70 booklet

Two Yogi Berra (1961/1964) that I can remember.

Around 15 Roberto Clemente Cards, all in EX or better condition.

Around 15 or so Ernie Banks cards, all in EX or better condition.

There were approximately 10 Stan Musial Cards (1959 on up), 1961 had crease, all others EX or better condition.

1 Campanella (1961 - creased)

1 Monte Irvin (1954) - VG/VG+

1 George Kell (1957) - EX+

I remember a Maris '66 G

4 Koufax - 1966 (VG) and league leaders cards for '66/'67 (EX+/NM)

1 Feller (I think 1955 Bowman, haven't gone through boxes I still have yet, he may be in there) - EX

1955 Hal Newhouser Mint

3 Ted Williams '70, '71 and one of the fleer cards from the 60's

1961 Rizzuto 1961 Crease down Middle top to bottom

I could go on and on, there were approximately 30-50 or more of every other Hall of Famer I'm listing here in alphabetical order:
Ashburn, Aparicio, Brock, Bunning, Carew, Carlton, Cepeda, Eckersley, Fisk, Ford, Gibson, Hunter, Jackson, Kaline, Killebrew, Lemon, Mathew (bunch of his 70's manager cards), Marichal, Niekro, Palmer, Brooks/Frank Robinson cards, Ryan, Rose (I know, not HOF but should be), Roberts, Slaughter, 5 or so Sniders, Spahn, Seaver, Wilhelm, Williams.

There may have been a couple minor stars in there but not many, the entire 4column box was jammed with hall of famers, all 4 columns.

As I said, I am a private individual, the only people that have been to my house are people I go to church with and family. There was no evidence of break in. We went to our neighbors house on SuperBowl night and left our front door unlocked. My daughter came home after she ate and my wife and I stayed (I was drinking brewskis and having a good time). We all were gone approximately 2 hours (right across the street). My daughter said she heard footsteps and our dog did a small bark a week earlier around 4:00 a.m. Our doors are always locked so we didn't believe her. It had to have happened one of those two nights but it could've been another time. I have a lot of boxes of junk, somehow they picked the most expensive box. Sounds to me they were in the house awhile to be able to do that. Nothing else was stolen. I have a son but he works second shift and I know he didn't do it.

All my real expensive cards left (T206, T205, etc.) are now off my premises and in a safe place. I'm glad I had them elsewhere in my house. I initially got so upset that I took a lot of my memorabilia that I had to Hunt Auctions and it'll be in the May-June auction so bid high lol

You know, I'm 6'2 and weigh 230 and am military trained, somebody has a big set of you know what. All the kids in my old neighborhood before I relocated back to PA called me Superman. This is another reason I think the individual did not know, just got lucky.

I read several posts concerning offering cards, you are a bunch of great guys. If you want to send me cards please PM me and I'll provide you my address.

Many years of happiness in those cards gone.

Thanks for the support.
Dan

[danski496]

I wish they would've taken my game used and cert auto box instead lmao