Warning of Robberies in Maryland (Update for 2/24/24 Maryland Show)

MICHAELDIXON

A dealer who had setup at the Hunt Valley show was followed home and his home robbed after he unloaded his vehicle. The next week, another dealer who setup at the Timonium show was followed home and robbed in the driveway. Both dealers think there was a tracking device placed on their vehicle. I do not have any additional information.
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At the Hagerstown, MD show today (Saturday, 24 February 2024) Security identified a suspicious vehicle at the show. Later, one of the dealers observed the car, a white Honda with Maryland license plates following them in Cumberland, MD which is a distance of 55-60 miles. The dealer pulled into the Cumberland Police Department and reported the vehicle following him. The police department pulled the suspicious car over and ID'd the vehicle and persons. They could not be charged with anything as all they had was the dealer's word the car was following him. If Cumberland PD will release the names of the persons, and the license plate number, our security team will have it next week.
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Security at the show scanned all the departing vendor's vehicles for trackers and informed them to be aware of the suspicious vehicle.
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The Hagerstown Show is not my show, but they use the same security detail.

retirednow

This warning is not just for dealers ... and trackers are not required to followed home

MFeld

And this warning is for anyone, anywhere, driving home or elsewhere from a show.

kaz

Man this stuff is very scary!

mikee999

@MFeld said:
And this warning is for anyone, anywhere, driving home or elsewhere from a show.

This is also true if one is coming from a bank or from an ATM machine.

Cougar1978

Scary - I check rear view mirror, etc but that’s really scary. I would advise as soon home move inventory inside asap. How do you check for tracker on car?

Tomthemailcarrier

https://spy-spot.com/blogs/news/how-to-find-and-disable-a-gps-tracker-on-your-car
Trackers and how to locate them.

MICHAELDIXON

This is an email I sent to dealers who attend the Gettysburg show:
Dealers,
It appears the coin show thieves have found it too difficult to rob from the shows and are going after individual dealers. One dealer who had setup at a show in Hunt Valley was followed home and his home robbed after he unloaded his vehicle. The next week, another dealer, who setup at a show in Timonium, was followed home and his vehicle was robbed in the driveway. Both dealers think there was a tracking device placed on their vehicle. Whether it was a tracking device or they were followed, each lost between $125k-$200k in merchandise.
Dealers, please be extremely careful when going to or leaving the shows. When leaving shows, notice who is driving behind you. If you can, take a well lit exit off the freeway, get back on the freeway, and notice any cars that might have gotten off and back on. If you see anything suspicious, call 911 from your cellphone. When unloading at home, call the non-emergency police phone number and ask them to meet you at your house whenever you get home. These measures might sound extreme, but it might save your life.
Please forward this email to other dealers who might benefit from it.
Thank you and be safe!
Mike Dixon

MICHAELDIXON

We will be purchasing an Under Vehicle Inspection Mirror - 12 Inch Convex Search Mirror with Wheels and LED Light for Security in case any dealers leaving the Gettysburg show would like their car checked for tracking devices. Does anybody have any experience with, and can recommend, a certain brand or type?

MFeld

@MICHAELDIXON said:
We will be purchasing an Under Vehicle Inspection Mirror - 12 Inch Convex Search Mirror with Wheels and LED Light for Security in case any dealers leaving the Gettysburg show would like their car checked for tracking devices. Does anybody have any experience with, and can recommend, a certain brand or type?

That sounds like a great idea!

braddick

There are short turtorial videos on how to use these- as there are nooks and crannies that are easy to miss using these mirrors.
(It isn't like on TV shows where you see the opperator simply swipe the mirror back and forth like it was some type of metal detector looking for rings in the sand.)

Namvet69

These trackers are small and use a rare earth magnet so any iron surface will do. Gotta look carefully. Good luck and be safe. Peace Roy

Morgan13

I would suggest armed security in the parking lot on patrol.

lobo54

All of the above suggestions are great , but if they want what you've got they will find a way. For instance., using two cars with cell phones and a "lookout" in the parking lot, you could be followed by the 2nd car parked down the street. Then the "lookout" car could quickly meet up and vuwalla your being followed buy 2 or possibly more cars with none of them in continuous pursuit.
With the amount of gold, silver and cash being carried by some dealers, this theory ain't all that far fetched. My2¢

BAJJERFAN

@mikee999 said:

@MFeld said:
And this warning is for anyone, anywhere, driving home or elsewhere from a show.

This is also true if one is coming from a bank or from an ATM machine.

Good advice, but at the risk of being pedantic ATM machine is redundant as is VIN number.

jesbroken

I hope they never announce the rate of prosecution per instance of robbery. This low number would be an invite to even more events.
Jim

MICHAELDIXON

At the Hagerstown, MD show today (Saturday, 24 February 2024) Security identified a suspicious vehicle at the show. Later, one of the dealers observed the car, a white Honda with Maryland license plates following them in Cumberland, MD which is a distance of 55-60 miles. The dealer pulled into the Cumberland Police Department and reported the vehicle following him. The police department pulled the suspicious car over and ID'd the vehicle and persons. They could not be charged with anything as all they had was the dealer's word the car was following him. If Cumberland PD will release the names of the persons, and the license plate number, our security team will have it next week.
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Security at the show scanned all the departing vendor's vehicles for trackers and informed them to be aware of the suspicious vehicle.
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The Hagerstown Coin Show is promoted by Interstate Coin Club.

retirednow

@Tomthemailcarrier said:
https://spy-spot.com/blogs/news/how-to-find-and-disable-a-gps-tracker-on-your-car
Trackers and how to locate them.

Do these pick up Airtags or Smarttags that work off of near by smart phones by pinging their locations? I think there are apps that can advise u if your phone is being ping constantly ... thus u are traveling with one of these tags.