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Stop thief!

The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.

If word gets out that you have a stamp collection, thieves who specialize in
collectibles may target you. The American Philatelic Society — the biggest stamp
organization in the U-S — offers advice.

“We try to help collectors who have suffered a loss recover their stamps.” RUNS :05

Nick Lombardi — with a long career in law enforcement for federal agencies— chairs the
Stamp Theft Committee, which also tries to PREVENT thefts. He recommends keeping a
valuable collection outside your home.

“If you have them in a safe deposit box or a safe deposit vault, that always helps.”
RUNS :04

If you do keep the stamps at home, install security devices and keep it hidden.

“An ADT-type system for your whole house. Within the house, a safe that you can conceal
somehow.”   RUNS :07

But a thief who thinks you have a stamp collection may not stop until he finds it.

“Have a dummy collection out in view, in an easy-to-find spot.” RUNS :05

Lombardi says that dummy collection should contain junk.

“Just 4, 5, 6 albums of garbage, sitting on a shelf some place that even an idiotic
thief can find. And he’ll find it and say, ‘Oh, here are the stamps.‘  Meanwhile, the
good stuff is salted away somewhere in a closet, or somewhere else.” RUNS :13

If your GOOD collection IS stolen, notify the local police, then the A-P-S Stamp Theft
Committee… even if you’re NOT a member. There’s a form at stamps-dot-org.

I'm Lloyd de Vries of The Virtual Stamp Club. For more on stamps and stamp collecting,
visit virtual-stamp-club-dot-com.

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