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PNNA Coin Robbery
segoja
Posts: 6,141 ✭✭✭✭
One of my dealer friends was robbed after the show on his way home.
It was a grab and dash at a restaurant they had stopped at.
A car pulled up and blocked their view. They thought it was strange. They ran out and in the 1 minute they were running out, one dealer lost their entire new purchases from the show + $40-50,000 cash, checks etc. The other dealer lost 100% of his inventory (not a huge sum, but certainly detrimental to him)
The take away....don't stop and eat on the way home. go thru the drive thru
Put a simple bike lock around your case...it would have prevented this.
It was a grab and dash at a restaurant they had stopped at.
A car pulled up and blocked their view. They thought it was strange. They ran out and in the 1 minute they were running out, one dealer lost their entire new purchases from the show + $40-50,000 cash, checks etc. The other dealer lost 100% of his inventory (not a huge sum, but certainly detrimental to him)
The take away....don't stop and eat on the way home. go thru the drive thru
Put a simple bike lock around your case...it would have prevented this.
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James - do you know if it was a place near the show or somewhere further away? I know the area a little, and if I were leaving a show with inventory, there is NOWHERE in that area I would even attempt stopping and going in. Heck, depending on the direction I were going, and how long it would take, I would likely be driving 30-60 minutes before even doing a drive through.
Not that it is a crime ridden area, but it isn't the best and I would never take a chance. I don't even stop near there when I leave the show, as a customer.
Very sad that this happened to anyone. I hadn't heard this until now and I hope they get caught...somehow.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
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Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986
First time I have heard of something like that around here.
Wish it wouldn't have happened. Wish they would have used drive-through and/or buddy system if they needed a bio break.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
It was definitely planned out. Situational awareness could possibly have prevented this. If I was a dealer or even a customer carrying around a lot of cash or high end coins, I would not stop for anything. At least until I could confirm nobody was following me. An easy trick to try especially in an urban area, is to make 3 right turns not necessarily in a row but close together. The odds that somebody not following you making those same right turns are fairly astronomical. If at that point you do have a tail, drive to a police station.
I really hope they get these pieces of carp...
When I'm leaving I either have coins or the cash I brought with me, so I am paranoid about being followed out of there.
I have the local police station programmed in my GPS and before I get on the freeway I circle a couple of blocks.
If you make 4 right (or left) turns, you watch to see if anybody is following you. No one would make the same turns unless they are following you since you wind up in the same place you started.
I do one set in the city area and another set in the residential area.
I would recommend any dealer or a collector do the same thing before getting on the freeway or highway.
Not stopping on the way home doesn't really solve the issue, since you will eventually stop at your home or office. It's better to make sure you don't have a tail starting at when you leave the show.
That is too bad.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
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Scary they were followed as far as you are saying and sad that this happened.
Perhaps there are security cams of the restaurant/gas station these guys stopped at?
since when did people forget their common sense?
never lose your notice of your surroundings at all
crooks look for such weakness and then act
Coins are available for sale at the link below
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipPScedE6uGJxSCrA83UarSfuxUzIMXPFUb3ZMgi
The only major show I attend is Long Beach.
When I'm leaving I either have coins or the cash I brought with me, so I am paranoid about being followed out of there.
I have the local police station programmed in my GPS and before I get on the freeway I circle a couple of blocks.
If you make 4 right (or left) turns, you watch to see if anybody is following you. No one would make the same turns unless they are following you since you wind up in the same place you started.
I do one set in the city area and another set in the residential area.
I would recommend any dealer or a collector do the same thing before getting on the freeway or highway.
Not stopping on the way home doesn't really solve the issue, since you will eventually stop at your home or office. It's better to make sure you don't have a tail starting at when you leave the show.
If you suspect that you are being followed instead of trying to ditch them, it might be best to call the local PD and tell them you believe that you are being tailed and why. Have them try to pull over the vehicle following you.
crooks are well aware of tricks people will pull they just will wait for then you make a error and then react
Coins are available for sale at the link below
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipPScedE6uGJxSCrA83UarSfuxUzIMXPFUb3ZMgi
I wonder how much this deters some collectors and drives the Internet-only market?
???? Yep getting tired of hearing this. Maybe it's time to just look at the pocket change.
Why don't these dealers just pack a lunch or at least eat something at the show.
Socializing at a restaurant with the valuables still in the car is a very risky and should I say it, a 'stupid' choice.
If I was a dealer I know I would never stop and leave my merchandise in the car.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
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All sitting in the car? As stated above, very stupid. I hope it was a good meal.
All sitting in the car? As stated above, very stupid. I hope it was a good meal.
Helluva tip they left.
I have a great security plan - drove a 74 VW Beetle to the show - no one would bother following me.
As professional nature photographer with lots of valuable equipment in my truck parked at "tourist" locations all over the USA I found that ....
.... having a trasher truck with Taco Bell trash all over the front seat .... covering my valuable gear works just great. The thieves would rather break into a Beamer with the camera bag full of amateur equipment on the back seat.
I have a great security plan - drove a 74 VW Beetle to the show - no one would bother following me.
but then they could carry away your car with the coins in it!!
The "find my iPhone app" is useful and it might give you a hope and a prayer.
There are other GPS devices.
My Shark Tank idea has always been to design a GPS device to fit into a PCGS/NGC holder.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
If it were me, I would carry a spare iPhone in my inventory.
The "find my iPhone app" is useful and it might give you a hope and a prayer.
There are other GPS devices.
My Shark Tank idea has always been to design a GPS device to fit into a PCGS/NGC holder.
I suggested that to Don Willis some time back. He liked the idea.
If it were me, I would carry a spare iPhone in my inventory.
The "find my iPhone app" is useful and it might give you a hope and a prayer.
There are other GPS devices.
My Shark Tank idea has always been to design a GPS device to fit into a PCGS/NGC holder.
I suggested that to Don Willis some time back. He liked the idea.
You'd have to be careful with it. After all, what would the PCGS liability be if someone were to sell a coin then follow the buyer to their place of residence?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
If it were me, I would carry a spare iPhone in my inventory.
The "find my iPhone app" is useful and it might give you a hope and a prayer.
There are other GPS devices.
My Shark Tank idea has always been to design a GPS device to fit into a PCGS/NGC holder.
I suggested that to Don Willis some time back. He liked the idea.
You'd have to be careful with it. After all, what would the PCGS liability be if someone were to sell a coin then follow the buyer to their place of residence?
I think what they are referring to is a dummy slab without a coin and just a GPS device where the coin would be. No body would discover it amongst a box of slabbed coins without going through them all. They are not talking about adding a chip to every slabbed coin.
I think that is a great idea and would not take a too much to implement.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
One of my dealer friends was robbed after the show on his way home.
It was a grab and dash at a restaurant they had stopped at.
A car pulled up and blocked their view. They thought it was strange. They ran out and in the 1 minute they were running out, one dealer lost their entire new purchases from the show + $40-50,000 cash, checks etc. The other dealer lost 100% of his inventory (not a huge sum, but certainly detrimental to him)
The take away....don't stop and eat on the way home. go thru the drive thru
Put a simple bike lock around your case...it would have prevented this.
In the last 10 years..... how many dealers have stopped to eat after a show.. and got robbed ? . Yes Mickey Ds drive thru saves a lot of hassle and loss of business
If you suspect that you are being followed instead of trying to ditch them, it might be best to call the local PD and tell them you believe that you are being tailed and why. Have them try to pull over the vehicle following you.
With GPS nowadays they don't even need to follow behind you.
If you know the car, just stick a GPS device on the inside bumper and follow it.
If I was a dealer I'd always use Brinks to transfer the inventory to and from shows.
There are people in this world that would kill you for the change in your pocket, so a major score by a smarter low life thief can be very dangerous.
I don't know how easy it is to fence stolen coins? Pawn shops take ID, but there is always eBay.
Hopefully they can catch these
heard a story nearly like this that happened to someone i know from the monthly indy show.
why this is a bummer is dinner after a show is a great relationship building opportunity.
most do seem to head straight home though.
glad no one was harmed in the process, like often they are.
.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
A list of the lost material should be published so we can all keep an eye out, especially local folks. These crooks aren't the smartest folks around, and they will likely attempt to fence it locally.
Tukwila is not the greatest place, but it beats Kent. I've never felt concerned leaving the Tukwila show, but I always keep my eyes open, especially in the parking lot, as it's quite large.
Hope we can help locate this material; these dealers deserve better.
Dave
Lots of things could have been done better....I just don't like kicking people when they are down....
I agree, and that is why I did not make the snide Groundhog Day remark that I was planning.
I wonder how much this deters some collectors and drives the Internet-only market?
???? Yep getting tired of hearing this. Maybe it's time to just look at the pocket change.
Why? It seems like this type of theft has been happening for years with people being followed for hours after leaving shows. I think it's definitely a consideration when going to shows. Plus, there's a lot to buy and sell online.
I'm sorry to hear it happened and hope the coins can be recovered. Some of the ideas such as adding some tracking the coins are a good idea.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Lafayette Grading Set
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
Lots of things could have been done better....I just don't like kicking people when they are down....
I agree, and that is why I did not make the snide Groundhog Day remark that I was planning.
Well folks maybe is that is what it is..... kicking someone it will serve as a reminder ....imagine if this dealer had happened on these crooks and were armed
Kicking Someone ?????
Wonder why local coin show city cops never set up a trap for these kind of thieves. Would be really easy to be seen loading up a car with a bundle of cash/coins and then just stop down the road for dinner.
I would think that these dealers were being sized up while they were still set up on the bourse.
Wonder why local coin show city cops never set up a trap for these kind of thieves. Would be really easy to be seen loading up a car with a bundle of cash/coins and then just stop down the road for dinner.
I would think that these dealers were being sized up while they were still set up on the bourse.
Not only that, while we hear of these things too frequently here on the boards, it isn't like this is happening over and over in these specific locales to where it would be worth it for a "sting" to be set up.
Not sure who the dealer was this time, but I think the only other time in recent history I have heard of anything like this in this area was with Revick and his mother a few years ago. I forget the details, but I think they had some coins stolen.
That said, even hear, there are a couple of places (different police departments) for these larger shows.
Diligence is the best weapon against becoming a victim in something like this. If in doubt, call 911 and get a cop to come to you.
Trying to create a sting is for something like this is more likely to look successful in a movie than in real life.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I love the coin slab GPS idea.
I also am a long time proponent of coin photography. I started back in the mid 90's. It may not be applicable for every coin but it does work for many types of rare coins. I have known of three different occasions where my photographs have been used to recover some inexpensive items (less than $300) to expensive items ($25,000). It may take years to recover, but it's worth it! Another positive addition to mention is that it is difficult to disguise every diagnostic marking on a coin.
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So then they follow you all the way home....not good either. Dealers should be armed and trained and the inventory should never be left unattended. Security is an investment, and much less expensive than the potential (or, in this case, very real) losses. Even hiring a professional service is far cheaper than this loss. However, in my years on this forum, it has become apparent that, in most cases, we have those that believe "It can't happen to me.", or, "I have been doing it this way for years and nothing has happened.". Keep it up, it will. Cheers, RickO