Major Smash and grab of dealer inventory in central NJ

One of the true "good guy" coin dealers had his inventory stolen in NJ enroute back from Coinfest tonight--see http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=743402

Fortunately, he is OK. Be on the lookout for the stolen goods.

 

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Thieves will always find new ways to take what they want. One must remain ever-vigilant. It is difficult to combat against the new electronic threats (like GPS tracking, in this case), but it is still possible.

My favorite site dealing with coin-related security is "The Butternut Company":

http://www.butternut.org/coins/coins.html

There are many good articles here, but 5 of them deal directly with coin security:

Coins and home security: http://www.butternut.org/coins/tip4.html

Driving with coins: http://www.butternut.org/coins/tip5.html

Flying with coins: http://www.butternut.org/coins/tip7.html

Security at a coin show: http://www.butternut.org/coins/tip8.html

Hotel & motel security: http://www.butternut.org/coins/tip9.html


I hope everyone on CoinTalk has a chance to read these articles. They give immensely helpful information.

 

Good info borgovan, Thanks

 

Genuinely sorry to hear this.

And yes, Borgovan, that is some good info. Steve has a background in security and is a good source of knowledge on this.

 

First I heard of theft by tracking device. Usually they wait until you get something to eat, break into your vehicle and off they go. This bumps theft up to the professional level.

 

What occurred is unclear--it may be as you surmised with use of a tracking device instead of tailing the vehicle.

A reward has been posted--see PCGS US Coin Forum.

 

This really stinks. Julian is a nice guy and his coins were some of the most impressive at the show, in my opinion. In my show review (written during the last day of the show) I even commented on the fact that one of his offerings was likely the coin that made the biggest impression on me.

I hope they can catch whoever did this and return Julian's coins

I am going to keep my eyes open as well, and if I did I would not accept the reward, despite the sizeable sum being offered.

 

The reward is now $62,500, thanks to an amazing outpouring of support from many dealers affiliated with the PNG (the list of contributors reads like a "who's who of numismatics"). That is quite a tribute to Julian and to the profession as a whole.

A partial inventory is now posted on the PCGS board.

The slimeball crooks will have a hard time unloading the coins--let's all hope they get caught in the process and spend many years in the slammer.

 

I'm still kind of new to the coin collecting world. Do these kinds of stories ever have happy endings?

 

They've been claiming "tracking device" for years. There has never been any case though where the use of a tracking device has ever been proven to have been used. And this type of robbery of dealers on their way home from shows has been going on for decades. They used to claim that it was organized gangs of Columbians. Of course whenever the thieves were caught, they were never Columbians. More than likely, he was just followed.

 

The reward is now $ 122,500 and growing. This is like the Jimmy Stewart movie It's a Wonderful Life where the whole town stepped up to bail him out.

With that much money hanging over their heads, the crooks must be running scared. I hope someone rats 'em out for the reward.

I pledged to support the reward fund, and would love to write the check. Go to http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=743438 and get on the bandwagon!

 

I doubt they're scared.

There is no complete inventory list, even the slabbed coins can be removed from their holders, and any high grade coin can be made a lower-grade, salable, unsuspicious coin, with just a little rubbing.

If the thief is smart enough to pull off this heist, he's smart enough to avoid detection.

 

It is now $ 156,000. That should be a big enough incentive to bring anyone who knows about the theft out of the woodwork!

 

Total disconnect here, first a thief is someone who is scared a priori, they do not feel worthy enough to earn what they want, so they steal, the fear is well hidden with some but when they are faced with authority you should see them beg, plead and cry.

Second how smart is it to engage in any dishonest occupation, if the cops catch a sneak thief they hang every unsolved burglarly in creation on them, they are warehoused with other poor wretches who could not buy a clue if they pooled their resources, and forever after they are trusted about as much as you would trust a snake.

The miscreants who robbed the honest man may have a season where they think they are doing well, but in the end all they have is their stupidity, their laziness, and their egoism, a sickness of their soul.

Perhaps I am seeming to be too lenient with them, that is not my intention, I just think that they are sad sacks with bad backs.

 

At least he was not harmed , that is a real shame, these days you've got to have eyes in the back of your head hopefully someone will be caught.

 

He is a very nice man, and I was sickened to learn his insurance will not cover the theft. Because he was not in the car at the time of the heist.

 

occassionally, though usually not

 

Yes, it is sad, and my heart goes out to the gent.

Often, coin insurance policies specifically exclude abandonment; if one walks away from them, even in a locked car or hotel room, you're not covered.

The exception is inside one's home. If properly secured (deadbolts + safes), you're covered.

 

most policies don't even require them to be in a safe when at home, but I know of no policy that covers coins left in an unattended vehicle. sad story in any event though as Julian is one of the good guys and was just named ANA Dealer of the Year too.

 

The reward is now $ 167,000. This is an amazing outpouring of support for one of the hobby's foremost dealers who is a true gentleman and a legend in his own time. I am proud to be amongst the contributors to the reward fund!

I would love to write the check upon arrest and conviction of the perps!