[Player Management] Theft Issue

[UDEbot]

Theft Issue
from UDE's Player Management Forums

I run a Hobby League; recently, a player had lost several cards, and they were presumed stolen, as they were in a closed container that did not move for one minute, and were gone the next. After searching and not finding the cards, we found the sleeves that held the cards in the garbage can. I had a hunch about who had taken them because he was acting overly "helpful" in a suspicious and nervous way. Anyway, my hunch was seemingly confirmed as I recieved a phone call the next day from a reliable source (a trustworthy adult with no visible grudges) claiming that he overheard a person describe to another player how he and that person stole the cards together; one player distracted him while the other took the cards. Now, this person I had the hunch about had already taken another player's cards a few weeks ago and put them in the garbage as a "prank." I harshly chastised him and had a feeling that if nobody noticed, he would have taken them home. I am strongly considering banning him because he had a previous warning, and giving a strong warning to the distracter.

I am wondering, however, if this is enough evidence to even start acting upon the situation. Should I talk to these guys about theft alone? Should I play "bad cop" and say that I know they did it, even though I really do not? 'Should I gave a warning about UDE's theft policy to all players? Should I mention that I know exactly how it was done and that it was 2 people, but not who they were, and maybe that should inspire these people to fess up? It's a very tough situation.

Maybe if anyone has some stories or advice about how they successfully dealt with theft, it would be greatly appreciated.


http://entertainment.upperdeck.com/community/forums/thread/1206773.aspx

 

[Dimensionruler]

I'm not completely sure on the rights and privileges you have as the one running the Hobby League, however; if you have the right to I'd defiantly ban the two players from, at the very lest, your league and perhaps inform whoever it is that needs to be informed at UDE about the situation. After you had banned the accused parties, inform the rest of the players still attending about the rules and regulations that UDE has in regards to all forms of players conduct in their tournaments (stealing, cheating, poor sportsmanship, ect). I'd post up the information some where so that players can continue to refresh themselves about the rules.
As far as stealing cards, unless you catch them red handed or you have enough legitimate eye witnesses, there is little to nothing you can do about card theft. The moment they walk out of that store with the cards, it becomes almost impossible to prove they stole them.