Insane theft at the Dallas Card Show

[wilsonsingles]

I would argue that the vast majority of people that open carry or conceal carry, genuinely feel that they need to carry a gun for their own personal safety.
I'm sure open carry makes one feel even more protected.

[wilsonsingles]

Originally Posted by asujbl

Links please. TIA

also on the front page of yahoo if you scroll down far enough

[jhssketchcards]

Originally Posted by notfast

These thieves may likely have committed similar crimes before but this isn’t some organized crime/high end professional job like some are stating.

This is akin to those who come in to a Walgreens and wipe out a shelf while their partner asks the cashier where the lotion is.

I’m not saying the criminals themselves are high end, but they didn’t steal these cards to sell on Mercari or at a pawn shop.

I personally know a shop owner who pays goys to find retail stuff that he sells at his shop. He pays these clowns a low finders fee and then flips them online or in-store for almost double MSRP.

There’s zero chance these fools who did this in Dallas did this to sell on the open market. They also didn’t do this to sit on them for a decade or more.

Just my opinion


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[UMich92]

So I got curious as to how wide the publicity has been and googled. The theft was noted on the Today show on Tuesday morning and has also been reported by NY Times/The Athletic, Newsweek, CBS Sports, and many other newspapers and TV stations.

https://www.today.com/video/thieves-...h-214466117962
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/562...stolen-dallas/
https://www.newsweek.com/2-million-d...reward-1922838

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by asujbl

Links please. TIA

Seriously? You can't just type in the exact search I told you?

Here you go:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/562...stolen-dallas/

https://frontofficesports.com/dallas...ll-card-heist/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ml...-Robinson.html

I included an international article for you as well.

I had to dig a bit more for the specific articles I mentioned because now just about every news outlet in the country is running the story.

[seanbros55]

Originally Posted by asujbl

Links please. TIA

I just got an email this morning from MySlabs this morning touting the $70k reward.

[whattheblood]

They are toast! Better get a good meal or two in before they are arrested.

[auburn35]

Some additional footage of one of the suspects.

https://x.com/DallasCardShow/status/1811448613542707231

[joecarterfan]

Originally Posted by auburn35

Some additional footage of one of the suspects.

https://x.com/DallasCardShow/status/1811448613542707231

That guy is definitely scoping out exits, time to and from door, etc. Waves to people like he knows them, though, so maybe he's a regular?

[MavsRChamps]

Terrible. I had $200 worth of wrestling cards stolen at a show in Cherry Hill, NJ 5 months ago & it still irks me a bit (My hunch it may have been accidental by this older collector looking through them but who knows). Can't imagine more stolen. Security should be tighter at shows in my opinion ... Even if the show promoter has to take a hit, it should be a requirement in my opinion.

Even for smaller shows, just having 1 security person overseeing the floor would deter a lot in my opinion. For bigger shows, of course way more.

[Mantlefan]

Originally Posted by MavsRChamps

Terrible. I had $200 worth of wrestling cards stolen at a show in Cherry Hill, NJ 5 months ago & it still irks me a bit (My hunch it may have been accidental by this older collector looking through them but who knows). Can't imagine more stolen. Security should be tighter at shows in my opinion ... Even if the show promoter has to take a hit, it should be a requirement in my opinion.

Even for smaller shows, just having 1 security person overseeing the floor would deter a lot in my opinion. For bigger shows, of course way more.

I was at the Dallas show going through a value box several months ago that had cards up to $100-$200 each but I was buying $5–$10 I got a big stack made an offer and paid the guy and he walked down to the other table. In the moment, I thought I could easily grab $400 worth of cards from that box and he would never know. It’s scary how fast it can happen.
I bet there’s so many more thefts than people realize at these big shows

[EPH289]

Originally Posted by JRX

Any chance its an inside job insurance scam?

Is there such thing as insurance for this? If I were an insurance company I'd never offer insurance for something that is that high risk for theft or fraud.

[auctionjmm]

Originally Posted by EPH289

Is there such thing as insurance for this? If I were an insurance company I'd never offer insurance for something that is that high risk for theft or fraud.

You think Blowout is running this business without insurance? Of course there is.

[JUNKWAX]

Fox news in Dallas has confirmed that Dallas FBI is in fact working with Allen police on this case.

[SpartanWarrior]

Originally Posted by SleepyWill

Feel bad for Ash, one of the truly nicer vintage dealers I've dealt with over the years.

To those thinking the thieves can simply crack and regrade, do you know what those grading costs would be on some of those cards? Do you honestly think these are the type of criminals that have that type of cash readily available to cover those fees?

I'd be 100% fine with venues charging more i.e. $30 dollar door fee if it meant there was adequate risk mitigation present.

—————————
Agree those cards aren’t heading to psa anytime soon.

But I for one am not willing to pay 30 dollars to provide more security at show.

[tipandpick]

It saddens me that we're almost a week out and there have been no (publicly-shared) leads. The longer this goes without anybody coming forward with pristine video/photographic footage and/or somebody recognizing these guys, the less likely the hobby (and Ashsh, of course) is to see those cards ever again.

I'm starting to believe these thieves were part of a professional syndicate and not just random hobbyists. I hope I'm wrong since the former possibility lowers the likelihood that they'll be brought to justice.

[jhssketchcards]

I’m curious with all the video equipment used by breakers, do any dealers utilize video cameras at their booths/tables? I’m thinking shows can now provide a form that allows them to let customers know that by entering the show they will potentially be recorded at anytime on the showroom floor.
With the amount of money exchanged at some of these shows it would be a no brainer. Even a sign at a table that says “You are being recorded” or “Camera used by dealer” could be a deterrent.
I’d be totally fine with this but I’m sure there are some who would be opposed.


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[Triple B]

Originally Posted by jhssketchcards

I’m curious with all the video equipment used by breakers, do any dealers utilize video cameras at their booths/tables? I’m thinking shows can now provide a form that allows them to let customers know that by entering the show they will potentially be recorded at anytime on the showroom floor.
With the amount of money exchanged at some of these shows it would be a no brainer. Even a sign at a table that says “You are being recorded” or “Camera used by dealer” could be a deterrent.
I’d be totally fine with this but I’m sure there are some who would be opposed.

This was sort of my thought for the upcoming National (or "The Nationals", as some of you call it). I wouldn't blame dealers if they were hyper-vigilant for this show and set up cameras around their booths. Mercifully, the breaker area will be nowhere as big as it was in Chicago, but cameras will be put to good use this time around.

[Cracktoast]

I don't know that tons of conventional pole mounted surveillance cameras like you see on gas stations or the outside of retail establishments are going to present but I can see Go Pros and body cameras that can be chest mounted and pointed directly at customers or potential thieves.

[ken161]

I asked a local card store owner about this. He's been setting up at local shows for years. He said there have always been crooks at shows but he thinks they've ramped up their game big time in recent years. He hears stories all the time of items being swiped.

[corndog]

Wouldn't be surprised if the authorities are asking for and reviewing footage from the last few shows that the victim has set up at
to see if these guys were there casing the setup/takedown patterns of him and other vendors.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by tipandpick

It saddens me that we're almost a week out and there have been no (publicly-shared) leads. The longer this goes without anybody coming forward with pristine video/photographic footage and/or somebody recognizing these guys, the less likely the hobby (and Ashsh, of course) is to see those cards ever again.

I'm starting to believe these thieves were part of a professional syndicate and not just random hobbyists. I hope I'm wrong since the former possibility lowers the likelihood that they'll be brought to justice.

This isn't Law and Order where they catch the perps in 45 minutes.

[The Accountant]

I really hope those items are found. But overall this is good for the hobby. Its going to be a big concern going forward and addressed so its a win from that perspective. But again, those items better get found. FBI involvement and publicity is huge.

I've never understood how dealers or collectors leave stuff laying around. Lots of people in this world, willing to take what you have for free.

[JRX]

Originally Posted by Boo

This isn't Law and Order where they catch the perps in 45 minutes.

And its always the guest star!

[Slvnumber2]

Wonder how much Ash and his posting what shows he will be at and items he will be bringing caused him to possibly be a target. Lots of people bring collections north of $500k to a few million to major shows, and wonder if highlighting several Mantle rookies allowed them to plan ahead of time for this one. Agree the National will be very tight and people more on guard for good reason. Hope these guys get caught soon.