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 Replies: 11 / Views: 3,762 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3843 Posts |
From Gerry Fortin's rare coins blog: http://seateddimevarieties.com/DailyBlog.htmQuote:
A couple in their early 60s was arrested on the floor for stealing from multiple dealers. The husband and wife team looked elegant and one would never guess that the husband was lifting raw coins from dealer trays and dropping into his pockets when disguising his hand movements as having a cough and reaching for a handkerchief. He was noticed by a dealer who informed a uniformed officer. The officer watched the individual and caught him while stealing more coins. This individual was placed into handcuffs and escorted to tables where he had stolen coins and finally removed from the building.
What worries me, as I write this Blog, is the realization that his wife "Bert" came to the GFRC table asking for a common date United States quarter eagle as a potential distraction. Osprey and I thought nothing of this behavior until the arrest. It is possible that "Bert" was attempting to distract us while her husband reached into the furthest most case away from the United States gold case. Currently, this thought process is only a worry and will be verified once I return to the bourse floor early on Saturday morning to inspect cases and determine what was recovered from this couple during the arrest. The financial risk is minimal, but again, welcome to the life and times of being a coin dealer.
Thought that this was an interesting read and a cautionary tale to those that want to get into the rare coin business. |
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
I haven't been to any shows because of locale and disability, but was wondering just how common this is. Hand cons are all over, my niece used to do craft shows, items there always grew wings and disappeared, even her magnetic jewelry...lost on average 1 bracelet per event. No uniformed security present, most were plain trusting folks trying to make some extra to get by. Needless to say, she's not involved anymore and main reason I don't try to sell in those venues. My two experiences w/ Craigslist brought one no show and an attempted robbery...how many hints does one need!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12804 Posts |
I've said it before and I still contend that coin dealers should invest in surveillance for their shows. Multi-channel security DVRs are so cheap these days. At the minimum it's a deterrent, and it could help identify if/when a coin was lifted.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Some dealers do.
But theft like this does happen. I have heard from many dealers that have had things lifted from their tables at shows. At one show I ran we had a couple like this, (CLUB MEMBERS!) her thing was stealing jewelry, his was stealing coins. I assume he felt he was entitled to take other peoples money, he was an auditor for the IRS.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12804 Posts |
Yeah, there will always be crooks out there, unfortunately.  Edited by CelticKnot
02/28/2017 02:09 am
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Moderator
 United States
187495 Posts |
Quote:
I've said it before and I still contend that coin dealers should invest in surveillance for their shows. Multi-channel security DVRs are so cheap these days. At the minimum it's a deterrent, and it could help identify if/when a coin was lifted. I agree.  Quote:
At one show I ran we had a couple like this, (CLUB MEMBERS!) her thing was stealing jewelry, his was stealing coins. I assume he felt he was entitled to take other peoples money, he was an auditor for the IRS.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Interesting how they went for raw coins, knowing slabbed coins can be easily identified.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Raw coins also aren't as bulky so they are easier to conceal.
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
We had a dealer at a local show a couple weeks back lose a slabbed 1955 double die cent in AU-58 to a thief. He said he must have looked away for a second while his case was opened and someone lifted it.
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Valued Member
Canada
217 Posts |
See the TED talk by Apollo Robbins on the art of misdirection to see how easy it is to distract someone to steal from them. Even video surveillance wouldn't catch a master. Fortunately, that Sarasota couple were amateurs and probably suffering from some sort of compulsive stealing disorder which I would guess is a lot more common at coin trade shows than professional thieves.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Quote:
At one show I ran we had a couple like this, (CLUB MEMBERS!) her thing was stealing jewelry, his was stealing coins. I assume he felt he was entitled to take other peoples money, he was an auditor for the IRS. Now ex-members? And banned from future shows? Saddest thing is that even if prosecuted and convicted, even if it was for a felony, it'd probably prove nearly impossible for the IRS auditor to be fired. Colligo ergo sum
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Actually dead now, that was back around 1980. They'd be well over 100 by now. And the problem with trying to get rid of them back then was they only stole from out of town dealers and no one was ever willing to press charges.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 3,762 |
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Posted 02/25/2017 12:38 pm
