Information from ANA about the theft at the Rosemont ANA show

coinhack

American Numismatic Association to Convene Task Force to Develop Additional Security Protocols for Coin Shows

On August 15, 2022, during setup of the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) World’s Fair of Money in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, a dealer had a display case of Rolex watches and coins stolen. Over the past several months, organized groups have been targeting coin shows and coin shops. These offenses are becoming serious issues and have resulted in substantial losses.

“As was driven home by the recent theft at the World’s Fair of Money, the American Numismatic Association is concerned about increased numismatic scams and crimes across the nation,” said ANA President Dr. Ralph Ross. “The ANA’s Board of Governors will convene a series of special meetings to conduct a thorough evaluation of the Association’s security protocols and take steps to address the emerging threats to the numismatic community’s property and physical safety. We look forward to collaborating with law enforcement, security specialists and members of our numismatic community for purposes of minimizing risks in our community.”

Visit money.org/consumer-awareness for tips on how to minimize becoming a numismatic crime victim.

“We are devastated that this happened to our colleague and perceive this as an assault on our community as a whole,” said Kim Kiick, ANA executive director. “The ANA will work with the dealer and authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.”

Persons having any information about the Chicago World’s Fair of Money theft or the items stolen should contact the Detective Division of the Rosemont (Illinois) Police Dept at 847-344-2350 or contact Doug Davis at NCIC at Doug@numismaticcrimes.org / 817-723-7231.

Below is a list of the stolen property:

Rolex 68NM8988 Card Submariner 40mm s/s MAYYY
Rolex 50548806 Explorer III 42mm s/s OYYY
Rolex Cier Air King 34mm SS Y154239
Rolex Daytona 588u0014 40mm 18kt YG KYYYY
Rolex GMT 40mm S/S TIYY E267488
Rolex Subcard 15A71239 MATYY
Rolex Black Daytona 40mm s/s AYYY MD88041
Rolex 943YY485 Yachtmaster 31mm 18kt YG/ss IYYY
Rolex DJ 18K YG L225047
Rolex 405n559 Datejust 41mm ST/WG OIYY
Rolex 74z55203 Daytona 40mm Platinum MYYYYY
Rolex 8579069 Day Date 18K yg MMYYY
Rolex 1043462 Explorer II Explorer II 40mm s/s NSYY
Rolex Datejust IOIY T390114
Rolex A560809 Day Date 36mm 18KT/YG MIOIY
Rolex Day date 18k yg 6410355
Rolex K329143 PAP Submariner 40mm S/S TSIY
Rolex Day date 18k yg 6
Rolex Explorer II 40mm s/s TAIY F699052
Rolex K358799 Explorer II 40mms/s TIYY
Rolex U468886 Yachtmaster 26mm 18k w/g KYYY
Rolex t760740 Datejust 36mm s/s CIYY
Rolex K132037 Paper GMT Master ii 40mm s/s MMYYY
Rolex E619102 Submariner 40mm S/S TOYY
1914D $10 Gold Indian ICG MS65
1883CC GSA Holder
1884CC GSA Holder
1856S NGC AU55 $3 gold
2- $20 Saints PCGS MS63
1850 1$ Gold
1820 Large Cent raw
1865 Five cent raw
1798 1$ PCGS XF Knob 9
1865 2 cent piece
1843-O 50 cent AU raw
2- 1909 D 5$ Indians NGC MS63

winesteven

@coinhack , Will they also look at the overnight theft from the bourse that occurred at the Winter Long Beach show? Live security is supposed to be on the bourse throughout the night, yet a dealers case was smashed at night with all contents stolen!

Steve

coinhack

That's a good question. I don' know. I'm just passing along information from an email that I received from the ANA today.

jmlanzaf

@winesteven said:
@coinhack , Will they also look at the overnight theft from the bourse that occurred at the Winter Long Beach show? Live security is supposed to be on the bourse throughout the night, yet a dealers case was smashed at night with all contents stolen!

Steve

They don't run Long Beach, do they?

winesteven

No they don’t, BUT they’re going to “convene a series of special meetings to conduct a thorough evaluation of the Association’s security protocols and take steps to address the emerging threats to the numismatic community’s property and physical safety. We look forward to collaborating with law enforcement, security specialists and members of our numismatic community for purposes of minimizing risks in our community.”

As such, you’d then think they’d want to know information about that Long Beach theft (among other thefts at Shows) so they can properly evaluate their own security protocols to minimize risks. At least that’s one of the things that I’d want to know if I were involved in those meetings!

Steve

jmlanzaf

@winesteven said:
No they don’t, BUT they’re going to “_convene a series of special meetings to conduct a thorough evaluation of the Association’s security protocols

As such, you’d then think they’d want to know information about that Long Beach theft (among other thefts at Shows) so they can properly evaluate their own security protocols to minimize risks. At least that’s one of the things that I’d want to know if I were involved in those meetings!

Steve

But they do specifically mention the Asociation's security protocols. Every show has their own.

winesteven

While the security team at every show has their own protocols, I still say they recognize they would benefit by learning about the shortcomings of others that resulted in coin thefts. If YOU were working on improving security protocols for ANA shows, would you not want to know of how coin thefts at other shows occurred?

Steve

ricko

This is certainly a welcome step in the right direction. Hopefully, the results will be a model of security that can be implemented at all shows. I look forward to seeing if and when significant actions and recommendations result from this program. Cheers, RickO

PerryHall

I remember reading many years ago about a large coin show. At night, after everyone had left, they would release a bunch of trained attack dogs to patrol the floors. Before the show opened the next morning, the attack dogs would of course be collected by their handlers. Dogs have acute hearing and are very protective of their turf. Sounds like it might be a good strategy to prevent late night theft. This wouldn't preclude armed guards being just outside the doors.

Lakesammman

It would be interesting to know how an entire case could come up missing. Any details from other sources??

2ndCharter

Well, they could start by having armed security at all entrances during setup time on Mondays - according to the rumor mill, that's what happened on Monday at the ANA. The thieves just strolled right out an unmonitored door.

Regarding armed security, I can tell you at the annual South Carolina show, we have armed security both inside AND outside the Bourse floor 24 x 7. I ought to know - as the Treasurer of the SCNA, I pay the security bills. There's a reason that Col. Ellsworth always puts our show in his list of Top Ten Most Secure shows.

MFeld

@Lakesammman said:
It would be interesting to know how an entire case could come up missing. Any details from other sources??

I heard that it was picked up and wheeled out.

jmlanzaf

@Lakesammman said:
It would be interesting to know how an entire case could come up missing. Any details from other sources??

2 people picked it up and walked it out the door. It's allegedly on video.

jmlanzaf

@winesteven said:
While the security team at every show has their own protocols, I still say they recognize they would benefit by learning about the shortcomings of others that resulted in coin thefts. If YOU were working on improving security protocols for ANA shows, would you not want to know of how coin thefts at other shows occurred?

Steve

That's a somewhat different issue. Obviously, you would look at all security, not just coin shows. But an evaluation of ANA security protocols is just that. If Long Beach has different protocols, I'm not sure how much you learn. And if the theft results from failure to execute the protocols (missing guard, etc.), there not much you're going to learn from that other than to better execute your protocols.

There's almost no way to prevent the theft that happened at the ANA other than flood the setup with security or assign a security guard to every table. The dealer walked away from his table and two people picked up the case and walked out. The only real question is how they got into the bourse.

winesteven

What's missing from the comments in this post is information about the ANA theft that HAS BEEN provided in other posts, and this is critical!

Apparently two guys wearing STAFF shirts wheeled a dolly into the bourse during setup that had a few empty cases on it. When they saw the empty booth, they then placed the locked case full of Gold Rolex watches and other valuables onto their dolly, but underneath an empty case on their dolly. They then went to a side door, where there WAS a security guard. Apparently, that guard, seeing them wearing the staff shirts, let them out that door, thinking the cases were empty and that they were indeed staff.

Knowing and learning from that information is critical in trying to minimize future thefts. I have NOT heard that type of detail from the Winter Long Beach theft. But that's why if ANA wants to improve their own security protocols, they should learn from the mistakes of others.

While Long Beach may have different protocols than ANA, that has nothing to do with the price of rice in China. Whatever the methods used for the theft in Long Beach were, Security Protocols throughout the industry need to recognize those theft methods, and adapt accordingly. THAT's why these meetings of the ANA should try to include the methods used for the Long Beach theft. I'm confident they have that understanding, even if some here don't.

Steve

logger7

The modus operandi varies from show to show and even if they get successful only 1/10 of the time, that is still enough to create havoc and fear. You can be sure the thieves will be wearing masks until it becomes suspicious to do so. Possibly they could require that no masks be worn at times of highest likelihood of thefts. Scannable and verifiable badges could be another requirement for employees as they enter or exit. Every time there is a successful theft you can be sure the scheming for the next one by desperate people gets more brazen.

jesbroken

Here in southern WV, at most functions, when valuable items are involved the sellers will hire local deputies to accompany upon setup and upon leaving. I can't imagine a more safe measure at a very low expense when considering the value that could be lost. Also, for local thieves only, the officers tend to know who to watch for or recognize when viewing the setups.
It might even be something someone could talk to their insurance company about regarding an offset to their policy to help offset the expense, when it benefits the insurance company as well as the seller/owner.
Jim

logger7

When I did shows the risk/benefits never justified it so I stopped. And one theft was enough to harden me against going to all the trouble, expense and risk.

CaptHenway

Ever ship your goods back to the store after a show via Brinks?

Saw a story on Facebook this morning about a Brinks truck that picked up a lot of dealer inventory at the end of a Gem and Jewelry show in San Mateo. For some reason it did not hit the road to LA until Midnight. Drove a few hundred miles and stopped at a truck stop where the truck was parked far from the building with the back of the truck away from the building. The driver went in for food FOR HALF AN HOUR while the guard slept in the cab. When the driver came out he discovered that the door had been cut open and 22 bags taken. The sleeping guard never heard a thing.

Declared value of the missing bags $8.7 million. Owners are of course screaming that true value many times what they declared.

spyglassdesign

Armed and trained security 24/7 with a way to validate staff somehow. Maybe rfid equipped badges that can be quickly scanned... But then if the crooks get a hold of a badge, there goes that idea.

It's going to be a tough balancing act between security and cost and inconvenience!

Desert Moon

@PerryHall said:
I remember reading many years ago about a large coin show. At night, after everyone had left, they would release a bunch of trained attack dogs to patrol the floors. Before the show opened the next morning, the attack dogs would of course be collected by their handlers. Dogs have acute hearing and are very protective of their turf. Sounds like it might be a good strategy to prevent late night theft. This wouldn't preclude armed guards being just outside the doors.

I like this idea but, who cleans up after the dogs? What if a perp comes in with the juiciest steak said dog(s) has/have ever seen? Will he/they attack, or go with their gut(s)?

yspsales

With the state of GPS technology being less than size of a slab... still waiting on PCGS/NGC to roll out a solution.

No brainer...

Pnies20

I’m going to put a training together for traveling/staying at hotels/shows for coin folks.

I’m amazed when I talk to some people about what they do and don’t realize is going on around them.

spyglassdesign

@yspsales said:
With the state of GPS technology being less than size of a slab... still waiting on PCGS/NGC to roll out a solution.

No brainer...

Only if you can turn it on and off at will... I wouldn't want them putting out a signal at home. But that would kind of defeat the purpose at the same time. Or if you have a bunch in one area someone could geolocate them as a way to track appealing targets.

I think it's a good idea in concept but would need to be seriously thought out from a security standpoint. Remember all the hubub about rfid in shipping boxes/containers a while back? And those things are only detectable from feet.

conrad99

Not sure any protocols will protect against a well co-ordinated flash mob. And no one is permitted to use lethal force to protect property.

DisneyFan

I'm wondering if either PCGS or NGC maintain a data base of stolen coins?

Since Rolexes have serial numbers, Rolex could do the same thing. Rolex is extremely particular about whether they will service one of their watches if there is a question of whether it has been "modified."

From the Rolex Watch Care and Service website.

"This initiative has allowed Rolex to guarantee that every timepiece leaving its workshops can be maintained to the highest standards and so preserve its excellent performance. As a result, there is no limit on how long a Rolex watch can keep working and carry on being handed down from one generation to the next in order to live several lives."