Upper Deck Entertainment Forums

I used to be a really avid player, though I have been judging regionals and locals alot now adays I have lots of ways to prevent theft.

From a judges (any tournmanet official) stand point a few ways to prevent theft are as follows:

1. Announce at the players meeting that there are many people here to not only play but steal your cards or whatever have you ( down to your trash bags).

2. Have the TO put someone on staff that does not play tcgs to just "watch" the event area for theft and suspicious people. (even better if you actually have security at the venue)

3. Ask players to keep their hoods of their hoodies down. (though they are not forced to comply if you tell them why they will usually understand and do it out of courtesy)

4. Impliment name tags or wrist bands to see who the non-players are so you can keep an eye on them.

That is about the max that a tournament venue can do to prevent theft, the rest is up to the players.

Now for the players, your list is alot longer:

1. Keep bookbags secure at all times.
- Dont hang them on backs of chairs.
- Dont carry them with one strap.
- Make sure they are zipped ( some players go as far as pad locks).
- Dont set them next to you.
- Keep them between your legs or wrapped in the chair legs.
- Some players...even myself keep book bags with the straps on their
   back and the part of the bag that holds stuff infront of them.

2. Dont let it on that you have lots of really expensive cards, that attracts the wrong kings of people to you. (I personally know/know of people this has happened to).

3. Bring as little as you need to to the event, unless you leave the "unecessary" stuff in your car etc.

4. Travel in groups, not by yourselves. Even if it is only two people opposed to one. This counts to and from the event and during the event.

5. When you go out to your car to leave at the end of the night if you dont feel safe in the area ask to be escorted to your car by some of the staff.

6. Keep an eye on "suspicious" people yourself.

7. Report any suspicious activities to the tournament staff (preferably the head judge or the TO, maybe even security if available).

Hope this helps,

Garren

 

Edit: Feel free to respond to this post!!!

 When I come up with more fun tricks to combat thieves I will edit my origional post to include them. Make sure you keep an eye out!!!

 

New Additions:

1. I am sure that every area has their known problem people. I suggest keeping a list of them and only distributing it throughout the judge staff, security, TO, and especially the head judge. In addition to this at the start of round 1 or round 2 (during the player meeting is the best time if possible) you need to have 1-2 people dedicated to finding out what these people look like (depending on the ammount of "Watch List" people you need to find) so that you can know what they look like. I did this at the last regional I head judged and it worked out really well as it allowed us to always be "around" the people on the list while not busy with judge calls etc. Which helps greatly to deter problems.

---

LvL 1 Yugioh Rules
LvL 1 Player Management
I work at Walts Cards in Dundalk, Maryland

As we prepare for the Charity Regionals, it seems a good time to remind players to please watch your cards, binders and backpacks.  Garren's good advice is worth a second look!

Enjoy the game

Having two sons who play the game at various levels for nearly 6 years and playing the game myself as well as judging my full proof (thus far) way of preventing theft has been this.....

We only have what we need to play in the tournament with us. Each person in our family wears a fanny pack in which all materials and the deck fit. When the deck is not being played it goes into the fanny pack, it's never anywhere else.

Bottom line is this, the more you bring into the tournament area, the higher your risk of getting it stolen.

If you insist on trading, have a list of your tradables in alphabetical order. (A spreadsheet program works nicely for this and can sort them for you) In this way you can easily reference what you're looking for and see if it's available. Once a deal has been reached, you can then retrieve the items from your car when time allows.

---

Yu-Gi-Oh! RK3
PM L3
TO L1
Specialist L1

I have only two things left to say:

First, it's a great advise not only for the players, but also for not so good TO(TO with theft problems), it will be great if Franklin Pin this topic.

And second:"You have learned well my young Padawan", like you i learn all of this "the hard way",it's always good to have this kind of topics here,But this is not "the real deal", this guide is not finished yet, actually it will never be. TO, HJ, Judge, Scorekeeper, Staff, Security and playes, most continue this guide by his own experiences.

---

I love the smell of the Freedoom.


Still waiting for curtis.

I do whole heartidly agree with you that this guide isnt finished and never will be. I knew this when writing it my guide is good as a base reference, but what will give alot to the dueling community is to have the base article to stem off of and share information with us about SPECIFIC situations.

 

Thanks alot,

 

Garren

---

LvL 1 Yugioh Rules
LvL 1 Player Management
I work at Walts Cards in Dundalk, Maryland

It's nice to see someone took the time to write up a list of good safety precautions and even better that it is a sticky.
Thanks for doing this.

Garren:

7. Report any suspicious activities to the tournament staff (preferably the head judge or the TO, maybe even security if available).

One time at a regional I went to a long time ago there people gambling, and I reported them.

---

LVL 1 YGO RK
LVL 1 PM
Friday night custom games on Halo 3 hosted by my bro on Xbox Live. Gamertag: Ju_Jitsu_X

1757357:

Now for the players, your list is alot longer:

1. Keep bookbags secure at all times.
- Dont hang them on backs of chairs.
- Dont carry them with one strap.
- Make sure they are zipped ( some players go as far as pad locks).
- Dont set them next to you.
- Keep them between your legs or wrapped in the chair legs.
- Some players...even myself keep book bags with the straps on their
   back and the part of the bag that holds stuff infront of them.

2. Dont let it on that you have lots of really expensive cards, that attracts the wrong kings of people to you. (I personally know/know of people this has happened to).

3. Bring as little as you need to to the event, unless you leave the "unecessary" stuff in your car etc.

4. Travel in groups, not by yourselves. Even if it is only two people opposed to one. This counts to and from the event and during the event.

5. When you go out to your car to leave at the end of the night if you dont feel safe in the area ask to be escorted to your car by some of the staff.

6. Keep an eye on "suspicious" people yourself.

7. Report any suspicious activities to the tournament staff (preferably the head judge or the TO (if they will allow it and most will), maybe even security if available).

Hope this helps,

Garren

 

Edit: Feel free to respond to this post!!!

My son and I both play, and it seems there is always some theft at each Sneak Preview or Regional and even often at the locals.

My son has lost a number of cards due to theft (including a binder of his "showcase" cards).  Since the last theft (after I started  playing), MY rules now include:

1.  When playing, the bag is secured then placed on the floor and under your feet or between your legs.

2.  If you have to leave the table for any reason (to talk to some or use restroom...) everything goes in your bag and the bag secured and either goes  with you or is left in the care of the other of the  2 of us, or in the care of a trusted close friend or, as a last ditch option - behind the counter/desk of the TO/Shop/Judge - in that order.

We sometimes bring a trade binder with us, and in addition to the above, I also include:

3.  When trading, only deal with one person at a time and keep your eyes on the cards at all times. after the trade is done, the binder goes under hand or in bag till next trade.

Since we started these policies, we have not lost a single card.

---

YGO Rules Lvl 1
Player Management Lvl 1
TO lvl 1
----------------------
That which does not kill me, just royally pisses me off!

I am glad to see that we have people reporting suspicious activity as the judges and TO etc. cannot catch everything its helpful to have a set of eyes in the player base. RShields I like all of your advice on how to stop your items from being stolen.

 

Thanks alot,

 

Garren

 

EDIT: When I come up with more fun tricks to combat thieves I will edit my origional post to include them. Make sure you keep an eye out!!!

---

LvL 1 Yugioh Rules
LvL 1 Player Management
I work at Walts Cards in Dundalk, Maryland

2.  If you have to leave the table for any reason (to talk to some or use restroom...) everything goes in your bag and the bag secured and either goes  with you or is left in the care of the other of the  2 of us, or in the care of a trusted close friend or, as a last ditch option - behind the counter/desk of the TO/Shop/Judge - in that order.

Hi everyone.

I should probably say that at a premier event, the staff cannot be responsible for the belongings of any player. Please make sure you have a method of securing your property at all times. The suggestions that many people have posted are quite good. If you follow them, you will not have any problems at any event.

Have fun, but be careful!

---

Yu-Gi-Oh Rules Level 3
Player Management Level 2

*stupid question*

is it even legal to have free razors in the backpack?

cause my friends bag had certain points so if one wrong pull or jerk such as pulling his folder out and trying to run off with it will result in razor induced injury since he had some situations of theft in both cons and places such as regionals.

---

Light in one hand
Dark in the other
and what we get is a fiasco of total negation.

That would constitute "carrying a concealed weapon" - illegal by all definitions.

 

 

---

Credibility is just a fancy way of saying you are a leader among sheep.

This is a player suggestion to keep down the problem and it is a simple one count your deck side deck and extras deck before you or your opponent leave the table (and allow or prompt your opp. to do the same) it keeps the opp from walking off with your cxards whether they mean to or not.

---

Do a search on "Stella Awards" and see why that is not a good idea. People guilty of worse crimes have won lawsuits over less willful endangerment.

---

I want to fix the game state.
I must fix the game state!

Please! Please! Let me fix the Game State!!!

1826433:

is it even legal to have free razors in the backpack?

I have a small knife in my briefcase, but it's really only there to open stubborn chip bags and the like. It takes both hands to open, and can barely cut paper. Realistically speaking though... If I catch a thief trying to grab something of mine, I wouldn't need a weapon to deal with it.

On a more constructive note... I always need to mention that one of the best ways to avoid getting your things stolen is to go to the bathroom before your event. This may seem silly, but think of it this way. If I need to go relieve myself, my attention will be rather divided. When I finally decide to go, I'll need to gather up all my things and either take them with me, or get them to a safe place. Then once I get back, I'll need to reestablish my area and all the commotion that goes with it. Any effective thief can see this quite easily, and will opt to capitalize on it.

I've also found that keeping my cards organized, and like mentioned above... Only dealing with one trader at a time works really well. Regionals are not like locals where I know all 12 people there, and everybody is a regular. If my cards are organized within the binder, a missing item will be noticed a lot faster, and thus... A thief will often pass up the opportunity. I also don't want my binders floating around the table while I'm having a duel because like I said earlier... Everyone can't be trusted.

Generally speaking, I've found the majority of people who play tcg's to be quite sociable and friendly. However, some people are there to pull a fast one on you, and the best defense against this isn't more security guards, or carrying knives. I believe it's simply to be more aware, and eliminate yourself as an easy target.

Also... I laugh at the idiot who stole the Shrink out of my side deck once, but didn't see the upside down Jinzo below it.

---

- Val

If I lived in a state where I could carry a sword on my body, I would willingly get swordsmanship lessons so that I could carry one at all times, and if someone even looked like he was going to steal my stuff, woops, off goes his hand.

---

107-744-616
Circle of Tragedy Duels
YGORK2, PM1, TO1
UDE May Use My Card Ideas At Will!
EVERYTHING I SAY IS PERSONAL OPINION
Prepare for the coming Global Crisis