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Another huge collection stolen WARNING you WILL cry

RipublicaninMassRipublicaninMass Posts: 10,051 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I just got this from Mastro


In November 9th in a northern Chicago suburb a significant vintage jewelry and baseball card collection was stolen.

The collection includes vintage jewelry and the following baseball card sets.

1. 1914/1915 Cracker Jack Complete Set
2. 1911 M116 Sporting Life Complete Set
3. 1916 M116-4 Sporting News Complete Set
4. 1953 To 1959 Topps Complete Sets
5. 1954 Wilson Wieners Set
6. Various Vintage Regional Sets

If you have any information on this material or are approached with this material please contact

Doug Allen, President, Mastro Auctions at 630-336-6650

Thank You,

Doug Allen

Comments

  • bri2327bri2327 Posts: 3,178 ✭✭
    Wow

    I feel bad for whoever lost that collection. Im sure they had it insured, but it still has to suck.

    A collection like that will be hard to release on the open market for the thieves. I would imagine an unscrupulous buyer was already in on it before the theft even took place.

    Maybe Im way off base and reading too much into it, but my guess would be those cards will be locked away in a personal collection for many years to come.
    "The other teams could make trouble for us if they win."
    -- Yogi Berra

    image
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    I agree that does suck, my question is why call mastro if you see it? why not just call the police? What can mastro do other then attempt to get your reward?

    Steve
    Good for you.
  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,281 ✭✭✭✭✭
    One thing I have found out in the 2 plus years back in the hobby. It is a SMALL collecting world when ya get right down to it. Whoever swiped that fine stash will have a tough time trying to sell them no matter how long he sits on them.

    Edited to say ..... I hope it is obvious whenever that time comes.

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • jayhawkejayhawke Posts: 1,317 ✭✭✭


    << <i>my question is why call mastro if you see it? why not just call the police? >>

    I was thinking the same thing. Was the collection owned by a Mastro executive?
  • DeutscherGeistDeutscherGeist Posts: 2,990 ✭✭✭✭
    Mr. Mint will buy them all.


    I know the collecting community is small and virtually limited to the USA for the most part with few exceptions. What if these sets were broken up and gradually sold off bit by bit? Will that go undetected. My guess is that is what they would do.
    "So many of our DREAMS at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we SUMMON THE WILL they soon become INEVITABLE "- Christopher Reeve

    BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
  • jomerjomer Posts: 254
    "Whoever swiped that fine stash will have a tough time trying to sell them no matter how long he sits on them. "

    i disagree.......it's not like they were serial numbered or anything............i think you would have a tougher time proving they were stolen..............



  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,281 ✭✭✭✭✭
    jomer,

    Maybe I am looking through rose colored glasses then !! image

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • ndleondleo Posts: 4,150 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Considering the quality of the material involved, I have a feeling this job was a set-up. Someone had been watching this collection for a while.

    I wonder if this was a store heist or a private collection. I feel bad if it is from a private collector since the person that owns these set is probably a senior citizen. The first place I would look would be friends and family. This isn't just something a lucky crook finds.
    Mike
  • AxtellAxtell Posts: 10,037 ✭✭
    They probably called the police and probably also contacted various auction houses (maestro being among them), to let as many people know this theft happened.

    If it's a legit theft, it's a terrible thing, but when I first read it, the first thing I thought was - 'this reeks of insurance fraud'.

  • flatfoot816flatfoot816 Posts: 2,194 ✭✭✭
    as an ex-cop from a major city in the northeast, you all make good points. Hate to think of it, and since we do not know who the owner was, insurance scams always come to mind. If it was a legit heist, usually from someone that knew of the cards and their value. As for it being tough to unload, doubt it. Not like we are talking a Mona Lisa or other 1 of a kind art piece. To sell as a whole, yes...broken up--no. My guess is there are any # of dealers who would not think twice to buy the set and unloaed it as time goes on--sad, but true. If there is a buck to be made, someone with less scruples than most of us will try to make that buck.

    Memo to us---insure your collection, inventory it, record PSA #s, and photograph your goods.
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>my question is why call mastro if you see it? why not just call the police? >>

    I was thinking the same thing. Was the collection owned by a Mastro executive? >>



    Doug Allen, the president of Mastro, is good friends with the collector [an 80+ year old gentleman] whose collection was stolen. I think Doug is trying to facilitate an arm into the collecting community, putting more time and effort into tracking down these cards than perhaps the police will...

    Absolutely Doug has a ton of contacts in the collecting community that the police will otherwise be ignorant of.
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
  • RipublicaninMassRipublicaninMass Posts: 10,051 ✭✭✭
    i had some cards stolen from me. I was going to diffent hsop with one of my friends and they offered me 500$. Then he stole them and said I sold them to him for 400 and I was mad he sold them for 750$. Nobody has receipts, nobody can prove ownership therfore the cards are gone. I wonder if the set registry could be used as proof of ownership of a certain card?
  • jomerjomer Posts: 254
    " As for it being tough to unload, doubt it. Not like we are talking a Mona Lisa or other 1 of a kind art piece. To sell as a whole, yes...broken up--no. My guess is there are any # of dealers who would not think twice to buy the set and unloaed it as time goes on--sad, but true. If there is a buck to be made, someone with less scruples than most of us will try to make that buck."

    Exactly........
    As a collector/dealer, if anyone that tries to sell you a 53 Mantle........your first thought would be to question it's authenticity, not it's history!!

  • TheCARDKidTheCARDKid Posts: 1,496 ✭
    There was a thread on it over at Net 54.

    Doug Allen said the collector put his Goudey sets together from packs!

    The collecting world is pretty small for stuff like this. How often do you see a '14 Cracker Jack set or M116's?

    Another reason to keep scans of your most important raw and slabbed cards.

  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    marc

    I agree with you as i had no idea it was a friend of his. however with that said mr. allen can't make an arrest. the total value of this heist will surely get the police's attention. the jurisidiction where it happened i assume already has been notified (a police report made) so, it is an active grand larceny case. the detective that has been assigned the case can do more then mr. allen in effecting its return and or apprenhension of the culprit(s).
    jmo

    Steve

    Good for you.
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