Pat's Games, Austin TX broken into, 75k worth of cards stolen.

[Myelectronicdays]

made kotaku as well

http://kotaku.com/75-000-worth-of-ma...ium=Socialflow

[workingdude]

At this point, it seems the case has come to a bit of a halt. They have done a really good job with getting exposure with different media outlets and online platforms, but it doesn't seem to have yielded much. Pat's is starting to give more and more information about specific cards and calling on more avenues of assistance that I would not expect if they had a firm suspect in their crosshairs.

[T-101]

If they have half a brain, they will unload this slowly over time. Go to events and sell a few cards here, a few cards there. Trade, so they arent holding the exact stolen inventory. Try to unload it over five years.

Sure, that would probably be the smartest way to play it.

BUT... the folks who did this thought it was a good idea to smash into the store and steal all these valuables.

These guys probably aren't holding college degrees. They probably aren't terribly successful in general. I don't think the culprits are the type of folks who make wise long-term plans, and then follow through on them. They're probably more impulsive, looking for a big pay day RIGHT NOW, consequences and repercussions be damned.

[apple713]

While it'd be naive to dismiss that possibility, the much-simpler and more likely explanation is that they just got robbed. They wouldn't want all this media coverage if they're trying to scam their insurance. Likewise, Pat's seems to be doing pretty well for itself financially; I don't think they'd really want to go through all this hastle for some extra cash. I'm sure it's relatively tough for them to move some of these high-end singles, but having things like Power in their display cases is a nice marketing tool that's probably more important to them than insurance money.

Then again, this is all speculation. Either way, hope they get their cards back soon.

I wasn't trying to imply that i think there is insurance fraud because I don't. I think they legitimately got robbed. I'm just looking at it from a different perspective. 75K isn't some extra cash... its ALOT of cash for a small business like this. SCG wasn't robbed...Pats games was and I doubt they have the same kind of cash flow.

Eh, unless it was super obscure stuff, I doubt it would be that hard for them to move if they really wanted to. Ebay and TCGPlayer have made it fairly trivial to turn cardboard into cash on short notice, or they could always pay to have a booth at a big local event.

They might get a quick insurance payday now, but unless they were in real financial trouble, they're almost certainly losing out in the long term. I'm not sure exactly what got taken, but if it was high dollar stuff, you might be looking at 100K in a couple years. Having a really good singles selection is also a good way to draw/keep players.

It wouldn't be hard for them to move if they needed the cash but they'd likely be taking a loss or not realizing any gain. Ebay takes 15%, PLUS Ebay always sells for a discount on full retain so up to 30% less than what pat would have made in the store.... Thats a pretty large margin.

As for the long term, They get the payday and reinvest in EXACTLY what they want instead of the hodgepodge that they might have had before.

An insurance claim is much easier to deal with then selling a bunch of singles at full retail. Selling would give pat income. Insurance proceeds are not income (depending on how the books are kept). No income = No Taxes. I don't think pat was trying to get out of the business but this would be a good way to do it because then you wouldn't need to buy insurance again :)

[square_two]

Sure, that would probably be the smartest way to play it.

BUT... the folks who did this thought it was a good idea to smash into the store and steal all these valuables.

These guys probably aren't holding college degrees. They probably aren't terribly successful in general. I don't think the culprits are the type of folks who make wise long-term plans, and then follow through on them. They're probably more impulsive, looking for a big pay day RIGHT NOW, consequences and repercussions be damned.

I wouldn't make that assumption. Sure, the guys caught in police shows and put up on silly youtube videos are idiots. But just because you are smart and successful doesn't mean you aren't thrill-seeking or looking to earn easy cash on the side. Or trying to pay off student loans

[T-101]

I wouldn't make that assumption. Sure, the guys caught in police shows and put up on silly youtube videos are idiots. But just because you are smart and successful doesn't mean you aren't thrill-seeking or looking to earn easy cash on the side. Or trying to pay off student loans

Ok, you won't make that assumption, but I will.

If and when they catch these guys, I doubt they are going to be upstanding citizens. How often do the headlines read, "DEBT-FREE FINANCIALLY SECURE HARVARD GRADUATE WITH SIZABLE RETIREMENT ACCOUNT AND OWNER OF A SUCCESSFUL SPORTS BAR STEALS ATM MACHINE FROM LIQUOR STORE."

[thecrav]

I just want to know the physics involved with breaking down a locked door using what is essentially a piece of rebar.

[iamajellydonut]

Ok, you won't make that assumption, but I will.

If and when they catch these guys, I doubt they are going to be upstanding citizens. How often do the headlines read, "DEBT-FREE FINANCIALLY SECURE HARVARD GRADUATE WITH SIZABLE RETIREMENT ACCOUNT AND OWNER OF A SUCCESSFUL SPORTS BAR STEALS ATM MACHINE FROM LIQUOR STORE."

And there's no middle ground between alcoholic dropout and CEO?

I make less than I want to and have goals I can't afford. $45k up front would be a life changing windfall.

Is there a list of what was stolen so people can be on the lookout? Anything graded, altered, or otherwise unique?

FYI that facebook link doesn't work for me.

https://www.facebook.com/PatsGames/

They've made three posts going case-by-case. So far nothing "unique" except for I think a signed card.

[T-101]

And there's no middle ground between alcoholic dropout and CEO?

I make less than I want to and have goals I can't afford. $45k up front would be a life changing windfall.

Obviously, there's a wide middle ground, which is most likely where the culprits fall.

I bet most people could use a lump of 45K. Most people don't think it's worth it to break into a place of business, steal rare merchandise, and try to resell it to get that 45K.

I mean, these guys are going for the high risk, high reward play. The risk involving an altercation with police, and lengthy jail time. I personally don't take risks like that. I bet you don't either. Most people don't.

[iamajellydonut]

I bet most people could use a lump of 45K. Most people don't think it's worth it to break into a place of business, steal rare merchandise, and try to resell it to get that 45K.

I mean, these guys are going for the high risk, high reward play. The risk involving an altercation with police, and lengthy jail time. I personally don't take risks like that. I bet you don't either. Most people don't.

Well, so far it appears that there's no risk involved.

Score:

1 Criminal Dopes
0 Moral Compass

[T-101]

Well, so far it appears that there's no risk involved.

Score:

1 Criminal Dopes
0 Moral Compass

Not getting caught =/= no risk

[Lord Seth]

Well, so far it appears that there's no risk involved.

Tell that to Cam Adkins, Iannis Hadjikyriakou, and Victoria Shedd.

[Richard Cheese]

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/p...5k-wort/nrKWh/

[iamajellydonut]

Sure, you might raise a few eyebrows if you try to ditch them all in one go at an SCG event, but spread out amongst a few smaller transactions, you should be able to get rid of them with very minimal trouble.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/p...5k-wort/nrKWh/

"According to the arrest warrant, that site’s owners grew suspicious when someone tried to sell it 91 extremely rare cards."

Fucking idiot.

[Esper3k]

Goblin Piledriver wrecks someone's face again.

[Ace/Homebrew]

Magic: The Gathering is a fantasy strategy game in which players build decks of cards, either by buying them (in packs or individually) or winning them from other players.

That made me laugh. I always bring a set of Contract from Below with me to win cards from my opponents.

Assuming Pat's Games had insurance which paid out over the theft, I believe the insurance company would legally own the recovered cards, right?
Would an insurance company even know what to do with them? I suppose they could buy in to Modern.

[Stuart]

Assuming Pat's Games had insurance which paid out over the theft, I believe the insurance company would legally own the recovered cards, right?
Would an insurance company even know what to do with them? I suppose they could buy in to Modern.

Apparently the insurance company owns them, but Pat's gets first dibs on buying them back.

[cdr]

Called it. Kudos to Card Kingdom.

[phonics]

Called it. Kudos to Card Kingdom.

Yeah, they talked about it on stream last night.

[ESG]

Awesome! Great to see this.