Marvel Inventory Box stolen at NY show

[G.A.tor]

bob, any updates?

[inconceivable]

Yes, once again, I must say that I can't fathom why any dealer who sets up at any medium to large show, and sells high $$$ comics, does not have a security system in their booth.

 

Seriously. If you already own a laptop (or even small desktop), it only costs $90 to add a cheap two camera system (.35MP, low res), which would give you some idea who stole them (height, build, race, clothing, facial hair, and maybe larger tatoos). A top of the line system would only be $250 and give you decent resolution (2 MP), night vision, audio recording, etc. The top line system also supports about as many cameras as you could come up with USB ports, so if two cameras weren't enough, add another $25-$30 per camera to get as many as you want.

 

The only thing you may need to buy not in these prices are USB extension cables, depending on how you locate the cameras. Three cameras would be enough to get good coverage on almost any booth. Still, for $300 you could have three cameras, software, and cables to install everything. All you need to already own is the laptop (and even if you don't have that, another $500 will get you more than enough laptop, so $800 for the whole system, which is still tiny if you are carrying $50k-$100k in inventory, with hundred and thousand dollar books.

 

I would file this one under the "yeah you are probably right, but is this really the right time or place to post this?" bin. Bob lost the books right before closing, and even if the cameras got the culprit the person would have still made off with the merchandise in the mass exodus. Still your point is probably one of the many lessons learned.

 

I am thankful Bob has insurance and I hope the comic community continues to support him through a tough time. Thanks for being one of the best dealers around Bob.

 

Dan

[Wally's Comics]

This slop makes me so mad I could bite a nail in two...

 

 

 

Bob I hope you find this !

 

 

 

 

[Broken Shakespear]

Just chiming in to the previous 4 or 5 posts about security cameras at cons... at least he had the best protection: insurance.

 

I agree cameras cannot catch everything. If you are loading your truck and a guy runs by and grabs a box, then your packed away camera system won't help. The cams should be the first thing up and last thing down at your booth. You might not catch the guy right away, but it sounds like this might be grand theft, so when an alert goes out for this individual and their webcam mugshot is plastered on it, at least they may eventually get punished for the crime.

 

Which if the stereotype of NY cops is true, they might not care or even try to find the individual. I don't know. Here though, it would probably be the lead story on the evening news channels, with the webcam pics and video playback aired on the news. A guy broke into a man's house once, stole a shotgun and $500, and it was the lead story on four news stations, both evening and nightly news, and ended up with about half an hour total air time for the day. They didn't even have any pics or video to go with it, just the guy giving a description of the suspect.

 

Your mileage may vary...

[shadroch]

For reasons too complex to comprehend,the Javits Center is patroled by NY State Troopers,not the NYPD.I'm not sure who would handle the investigation and follow-up if there is any.

[synch]

Just chiming in to the previous 4 or 5 posts about security cameras at cons... at least he had the best protection: insurance.

 

I agree cameras cannot catch everything. If you are loading your truck and a guy runs by and grabs a box, then your packed away camera system won't help. The cams should be the first thing up and last thing down at your booth. You might not catch the guy right away, but it sounds like this might be grand theft, so when an alert goes out for this individual and their webcam mugshot is plastered on it, at least they may eventually get punished for the crime.

 

Which if the stereotype of NY cops is true, they might not care or even try to find the individual. I don't know. Here though, it would probably be the lead story on the evening news channels, with the webcam pics and video playback aired on the news. A guy broke into a man's house once, stole a shotgun and $500, and it was the lead story on four news stations, both evening and nightly news, and ended up with about half an hour total air time for the day. They didn't even have any pics or video to go with it, just the guy giving a description of the suspect.

 

Your mileage may vary...

 

more likely the fact that he stole a shot"gun" that got him on the news than the $500...

 

[Comcasthawk]

How about this..?? Hire, or have a friend, near your booth and have that "person" wear a shirt that says "Blazing Bob Security", or something to that affect.

 

Having some type of "presence" is the best deterrent to thieves. Most likely, criminals do not like "steal" when some sort of security is watching.

 

Does Bob use a person at his booth..?? I don't think I have ever seen anyone, but Bob himself.

 

[Frank Pentangeli-migration]

That totally sucks Bob

 

How did they get a whole box? That can't be an easy feat

[blazingbob]

Update so far.

 

I have filed a report with the State Troopers. Javit's is State owned so it doesn't fall under the NYC Police department. I was told that I would be contacted by a Detective when the case is assigned.

 

I am not optimistic that they will really work too hard on this because it's just "Comics". When my list is finalized I plan on emailing it out to all the dealers as well as sending to the NY Comic con promoters who will distribute it to all the dealers that were at the show. I am hoping that a forum member or dealer will spot the stuff on ebay or craiglists. I would consider a reward if a forum member or dealer was able to recover my books, I would not consider rewarding a "No questions asked" type return.

 

To those who are wondering why I didn't have somebody working for me.

 

I had hired a person for the show, unfortunately for me he had to leave at 5:30 and I was too cheap to pay some guy $20-25 to stand around for a hour and a half watching my boxes. I blame myself for this because my EGO said I could handle the booth for that hour and a half. And for any conspiracy theorists I do not suspect that it was a "inside" job.

 

I basically had my boxes covered, I had 2 out of the 3 display racks broken down. I had a odd box on the opposite end of the booth. I had a Art dealer to the left of me with a wall display/curtains that blocked my aisle view. Koop's comics was across from me but I don't expect another dealer to be watching my booth. It would have been very easy to reach around, grab the box and go. As I've said to a couple of people by having the lid on I might as well as carried the box to the guys car.

 

Camera's are great but Ritter had camera's when his stuff was stolen.

 

 

[blazingbob]

Below is my best guess at the "final list"

 

There were approximately 130-135 issues since I remember the box was not full.

 

If a image is present you can cut and paste the books image using the below link path as follows

 

http://www.highgradecomics.com/images/catalog/ait1451952.jpg

 

TITLE NUM GRADE COMMENTS FRONT IMAGE OFFER PRICE

Transformers 4 NM white pages $20.00

Transformers 4 NM- $8.00

Transformers 5 NM white pages $12.00

Transformers 5 NM- $8.00

Transformers 6 NM white pages $12.00

Transformers 6 NM- $5.00

Transformers 7 NM- $5.00

Transformers 8 NM+ white pages $15.00

Transformers 9 NM+ white pages $15.00

Transformers 10 NM/NM+ white pages $12.00

Transformers 10 NM- $5.00

Transformers 11 NM/NM+ white pages $10.00

Uncanny Tales 2 NM-/NM Offwhite pages $24.00

Uncanny Tales 2 VF/NM offwhite pages, nice copy $20.00

Uncanny Tales 5 NM- Offwhite pages $30.00

Uncanny Tales 5 VF+ Offwhite pages $12.00

Uncanny Tales 6 VF/NM offwhite pages $20.00

Vault of Evil 1 VF/NM K16118 written on back cover, offwhite pages $32.00

Vault of Evil 8 VF- offwhite pages $8.00

War is Hell 14 F offwhite pages $9.00

Warlock 1 VF offwhite pages $40.00

Warlock 2 F- offwhite pages $9.00

Warlock 4 VF/NM $14.00

Warlock 5 F offwhite pages $6.00

Warlock 6 NM 1983 Special edition, white pages $5.00

Warlock 6 VF/NM $4.00

Warlock 8 F+ offwhite pages $8.00

Warlock 8 VG+ offwhite pages $5.00

Warlock 9 NM- $15.00

Warlock 9 VF+ $18.00

Warlock 10 NM $40.00

Warlock 10 NM- $18.00

Warlock 10 VF offwhite pages $20.00

Warlock 11 VF- offwhite pages $13.00

Warlock 13 F+ Rich colors, offwhite pages $12.00

Warlock 15 VF- offwhite pages $10.00

Werewolf By Night 4 NM- Offwhite pages wwbn433927.jpg $75.00

Werewolf By Night 5 NM Offwhite pages, nice copy wwbn533944.jpg $85.00

Werewolf By Night 5 NM- Offwhite pages $60.00

Werewolf By Night 6 VG+ Offwhite pages $6.00

Werewolf By Night 11 VG Offwhite pages $4.00

Werewolf By Night 14 VF offwhite pages $12.00

Werewolf By Night 16 NM Offwhite pages $28.00

Werewolf By Night 20 NM- Offwhite pages $28.00

Werewolf By Night 21 VF offwhite pages $8.00

Werewolf By Night 24 VF- offwhite pages $7.00

Werewolf By Night 27 NM- Cream/Offwhite pages $12.00

Werewolf By Night 27 VF/NM Offwhite pages $16.00

Werewolf By Night 29 NM-/NM offwhite pages $28.00

Werewolf By Night 29 NM-/NM offwhite pages $28.00

Werewolf By Night 29 NM-/NM offwhite pages $28.00

Werewolf By Night 29 VF+ offwhite pages $8.00

Werewolf By Night 29 VF+ offwhite pages $8.00

Werewolf By Night 34 G offwhite pages $2.00

Werewolf By Night 36 VF/NM Offwhite pages $16.00

Werewolf By Night 41 VF/NM Offwhite pages $16.00

Werewolf By Night 41 VF+ offwhite pages $10.00

Where Creatures Roam 2 F+ Offwhite pages $12.00

Where Creatures Roam 5 NM-/NM Offwhite pages $42.00

Where Creatures Roam 5 VF/NM Offwhite pages $25.00

Where Monsters Dwell 5 NM- Offwhite pages, nice copy $35.00

Where Monsters Dwell 25 NM-/NM Sweet copy, offwhite/white pages $30.00

Where Monsters Dwell 35 VF/NM Offwhite pages $24.00

Where Monsters Dwell 37 NM- $25.00

Worlds Unknown 3 VF+ Offwhite/white pages $10.00

Worlds Unknown 7 VF/NM offwhite pages $15.00

Worlds Unknown 7 VF/NM offwhite pages $15.00

Worlds Unknown 7 VF+ offwhite pages $10.00

Worlds Unknown 8 VF+ offwhite pages $10.00

X-Men 10 F JAN 12 stamped on fc, offwhite pages $110.00

X-Men 21 VF/NM Offwhite pages x2135760.jpg $165.00

X-Men 21 VF Chip out of overhang, offwhite pages x2135775.jpg $90.00

X-Men 23 VF/NM Offwhite pages x2335814.jpg $175.00

X-Men 23 VF- Offwhite pages $90.00

X-Men 24 VF Offwhite/white pages $90.00

X-Men 25 VF/NM Date stamp and name stamp on back cover, offwhite/white pages x2535862.jpg $150.00

X-Men 26 VF/NM Offwhite pages, very nice copy x2636870.jpg $175.00

X-Men 26 VF/NM Offwhite/white pages x2635879.jpg $175.00

X-Men 26 VF Offwhite/white pages $90.00

X-Men 27 VF+ Offwhite/white pages $140.00

X-Men 27 VF+ Offwhite pages $140.00

X-Men 29 VF/NM offwhite pages, barry davis written on bc in pen x2935930.jpg $150.00

X-Men 31 VF+ Light Tanning $100.00

X-Men 32 VF-/VF Offwhite pages $65.00

X-Men 32 F+ Offwhite pages $45.00

X-Men 34 NM CT $15.00

X-Men 34 VG+ Offwhite pages $25.00

X-Men 34 VG Offwhite pages, solid copy $22.00

X-Men 36 VF/NM Rich colors, offwhite pages x3636039.jpg $150.00

X-Men 36 VF/NM Offwhite pages x3645421.jpg $150.00

X-Men 36 VF+ deep rich colors, offwhite pages $100.00

X-Men 36 VF+ offwhite pages $110.00

X-Men 37 VF+ offwhite pages, 824 stamped on fc $110.00

X-Men 37 VG+ offwhite pages $25.00

X-Men 38 VF Offwhite pages $80.00

X-Men 38 VF Offwhite/white pages $80.00

X-Men 39 VF+ $90.00

X-Men 39 VF Deep rich colors, offwhite pages $80.00

X-Men 40 VF/NM offwhite pages, rich colors $125.00

X-Men 41 VF-/VF Solid copy, rich colors, offwhite pages, 2 2' creases in bc keep this out of a higher grade $60.00

X-Men 43 VF Offwhite pages $65.00

X-Men 44 VF/NM Offwhite pages, MAR 1 stamped on front cover x4436164.jpg $135.00

X-Men 44 VF- offwhite pages $60.00

X-Men 44 F+ Offwhite pages $40.00

X-Men 44 VG CT $8.00

X-Men 45 VF/NM $110.00

X-Men 45 VF+ Offwhite pages $90.00

X-Men 45 VF/VF+ Offwhite pages $75.00

X-Men 45 VG+ $15.00

X-Men 46 VF+ Offwhite pages $80.00

X-Men 47 VF Offwhite pages, rich colors $65.00

X-Men 47 VF JUN stamped on front cover, offwhite pages $65.00

X-Men 48 F- Offwhite pages $20.00

X-Men 48 VG CT $10.00

X-Men 49 VF/NM $125.00

X-Men 51 VF offwhite pages $70.00

X-Men 52 VF/NM $125.00

X-Men 53 F offwhite pages $30.00

X-Men 54 VF+ $105.00

X-Men 54 VF+ Offwhite pages x5436293.jpg $110.00

X-Men 54 VF $60.00

X-Men 54 F Tan $20.00

X-Men 56 F Offwhite pages $18.00

X-Men 57 VF- offwhite pages $60.00

X-Men 57 VG CT $5.00

X-Men 58 VF/NM $165.00

X-Men 58 VF+ offwhite pages x5852141.jpg $135.00

 

[shadroch]

I'll be keeping an eye out for them.

Having looked over your books at different shows,you seem to have gotten off fairly lucky. Most of your boxes would have much better stuff in them,no?

Best of luck recovering them or dealing with the insurance folks.

[Aces]

I'll be keeping an eye out for them.

Having looked over your books at different shows,you seem to have gotten off fairly lucky. Most of your boxes would have much better stuff in them,no?

Best of luck recovering them or dealing with the insurance folks.

 

Looks like the box on the end was grabbed.

Alphabetical order would put the X-Men at the end of the Marvels no?