A shocking theft took place at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland that left a sports card dealer from New Jersey missing approximately $275,000 in cash. The unfortunate incident occurred on the final day of the convention at the I-X Center.
The 48-year-old dealer was in the process of loading his SUV when the theft took place. The stolen cash, which was stored in a black briefcase along with two iPads, disappeared while he was away from his vehicle. Despite believing that his SUV was secured, the dealer returned to find the briefcase missing.
Following the incident, Cleveland Police First District detectives were able to locate the black briefcase on the I-X Center property. However, the significant sum of cash that had been inside was nowhere to be found. Additionally, an air tag that was attached to the briefcase did not lead to the recovery of the stolen money.
Authorities are now on the lookout for two suspects who were spotted leaving the scene in a blue Honda Odyssey van. The police are urging anyone with relevant information about the theft to reach out to the First District Detective Unit at (216) 623-5118 or contact the Crime Stoppers tip line at (216) 252-7463.
The theft serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining vigilance and security, especially in public spaces where valuables may be targeted. The sports card dealer’s unfortunate loss of such a substantial amount of cash has undoubtedly left him with a sense of shock and distress, highlighting the need for attendees at events to take extra precautions to safeguard their belongings.
