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Possible Pilfered Poker Chips - What to do? (1 Viewer)

justsomedude

justsomedude

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Have any of you guys ever had chips taken from a home game?

A few months ago I noticed 4 chips missing while cleaning up at the end of the night... There was that big gap in one of the racks (sad!). It was a custom chip with a very specific quantity, so the idea that 4 chips just got "lost" during play doesn't really fly with me. Given that I've never had chips go missing before or since this game, I really have only one conclusion to draw... Some one snagged 'em.

That said, what's my play here? Bring it up to the folks who I know where playing at that table? Leave it alone and just move on? I don't have spares of this chip, but it would not be too difficult to have them replaced.

I would appreciate input/thoughts on this matter.
 
it has happened to me a few times. 1 chip missing might be under the couch. 4 chips missing, someone took them.
asking your group will not help. Whoever took them is going to keep them, unless they were tourney chips (they might show up at the next tourney)
 
I would bring it up to the group. Let them know what you are missing. Tell them to be careful with the chips at the end of the night. Maybe someone had put them in their pockets and forgot to put them back in play. Hopefully you can recover them that way. If not, the group will be more aware of it in future games.
 
After one game a couple of years ago, I discovered that four 25-cent chips were missing. (My BCC customs! :eek: ) I sent an email to all the attendees. I heard back from one of the guys who found them in his pants pockets. He returned them at the next game. I'm sure this was accidental, as I have no reason to believe that he took them intentionally.
 
abby99 said:
After one game a couple of years ago, I discovered that four 25-cent chips were missing. (My BCC customs! :eek: ) I sent an email to all the attendees. I heard back from one of the guys who found them in his pants pockets. He returned them at the next game. I'm sure this was accidental, as I have no reason to believe that he took them intentionally.
Click to expand...
Not doubting your assessment, but I've never had a reason to put chips in my pocket at a home game. Casino, sure. Home game? Never.
 
Politely explain the loss and ask your group to check their stuff for chips before they come to your next game. Explain the replacement cost and headache too, so folks appreciate the consequences. Even veteran chippers can make mistakes and inadvertently pocket a chip. Yes, I'm looking at you @pltrgyst . ;-) If you say nothing, you are almost inviting a second incident by the lack of polite confrontation, which will probably happen on a more precious chipset. I think @flipupchipup had some chips disappear from a recent meet-up, which is especially rough since it's the first time I've heard of missing chips in the past year of meetups. There were hundreds of Mapes $5 and $1s at DCS, and I'm pretty sure (hoping) they all made it home to @H|Q .
 
I'd try emailing / calling each person there. Just pointing out to everybody that the chips are known to be missing may be enough for them to surface. Whether by accident or not.
 
inca911 said:
Politely explain the loss and ask your group to check their stuff for chips before they come to your next game. Explain the replacement cost and headache too, so folks appreciate the consequences. Even veteran chippers can make mistakes and inadvertently pocket a chip. Yes, I'm looking at you @pltrgyst . ;-) If you say nothing, you are almost inviting a second incident by the lack of polite confrontation, which will probably happen on a more precious chipset. I think @flipupchipup had some chips disappear from a recent meet-up, which is especially rough since it's the first time I've heard of missing chips in the past year of meetups. There were hundreds of Mapes $5 and $1s at DCS, and I'm pretty sure (hoping) they all made it home to @H|Q .
Click to expand...


They did not. :(
 
I had a cigar lighter and a pint glass walk away from my last game. I sent out a polite but direct email to the group that attended the game that I expected the items returned promptly. They were returned within 48 hours. It doesn't hurt to send out an email letting everyone know that you know they were grabbed.
 
image.jpeg
 
I've had people walk off with $5s or $20s that they had bought in for but didn't put on the table right away, and forgot about. They brought them back next game.

Example - someone buys in for 3 $50s, it's $125 max so they stick 5 redbirds in their pocket.

Always get spares with customs - sometimes people will flat out forget, or wash them, or they get broken, etc.
 
Wow really, please don't tell me people are nicking chips at meetups. That is so wrong.... :(:mad:

And @justsomedude I would send an email to everyone that attended that night. You can't just let it go, at least let them know you noticed chips missing. And then give them all the stink eye at the next game. Hope you get them back.
 
inca911 said:
....Even veteran chippers can make mistakes and inadvertently pocket a chip. Yes, I'm looking at you @pltrgyst . ;-)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have the bad habit of having a short stack of card guard chips on the table, and rotating through them as I play, looking for one that's got some good luck left in it. If Mark's chip had behaved itself and stayed with its own kind, it never would have left the table.

I believe he's improved his chip training program over the past year, though.

(Jeez, I don't even remember what chip that was...old age sucks.)
 
So were these chips not put into play?

Definetly contact the players and let them know the chips are missing and you need them back.

I also believe in the saying that locks keep men honest. I keep my chips locked up before during and after the game. If players don't have access to the chips the chance of some "accidentally" walking off is far less.

If someone accidentally pockets them because they bought more chips than the table timit then the bank will be over to show that.
 
Fwiw I agree that you have to tell your crew about this. Couch it in a "I'm sure it was a genuine error but i expect them back next game and no more will be said" manner and see what happens.

If you don't, a genuine error will be left unresolved and/or a genuine theft will go unpunished.
 
I've only had a few instances, where I was missing chips from my game. One time, a players accidentally scooped up a chip with his cash at the end of the night. Another time, I was missing three chips (1 x .25, 1 x $1, and 1 x $5). I thought someone had helped themselves to a sample set. Less than a week later, I was hosting my Thursday night league, and lifted the rail to clean under it, and found the missing chips.
Every time, I sent out a text the next day, politely asking those that attended to check their pockets, and please return the chips to me "no questions asked". So far, I have had the chips returned to me no later than the next poker night (knock on wood).

I would definitely send an email to the group. I would try to word as non-accusatory as possible, and explain that you would really just like the chips back. I think that is your best chance of recovering the missing chips.

Sorry this happened to you, and hope you get them back soon! I know my chip OCD would be going crazy right now, and all would not be right until all the racks are full!
 
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I had chips go missing twice. I sent out an email and both times someone had accidentally put them in their pocket. Note they didn't mention it to me until I asked because they didn't think it was important. Lots of people don't realize the value of them and they see so many chips when they come over they figure 'I have lots of them'. Both times they came back, but you gotta ask man.
 
I agree with a polite text or email to all attendees. Perhaps someone doesn't fully understand the cost of customs or rarity of some of these chips. They may have just liked the way they look and wanted one without knowing you can't just go down to the game store and get some more (doesn't make it right). Or it was purely accidental. Also I am assuming these are tourney chips, since no likes to leave money on the table.
 
upNdown said:
Not doubting your assessment, but I've never had a reason to put chips in my pocket at a home game. Casino, sure. Home game? Never.
Click to expand...

I was embarrassed when I found two $5 chips in my pocket after last year's meetup at @Trihonda's place. :whistle: :whistling: Of course I returned them before heading home. Sometimes sh!t happens.
 
MAJOR UPDATE!

So, fellow Denver poker-chip-fan @Kyle sent me a text this afternoon, basically asking me... are you sure the folks at that table didn't accidentally over-fill four barrels in those cheap racks, and leave one barrel four chips short?

I pulled out the set that was used at that table, and lo and behold... there were 21 chips in four barrels, and 16 in the fifth! 21+21+21+21+16 = 100 ...Alas - no missing chips (except for the two on my damn eyes, apparently)!!!

This happened to be a table of relative "noob" players, and to quote Kyle, "it's those fucking shitty racks... non chippers just shove as many chips in the slot." That they do!

Crisis averted!! (y) :thumbsup:(y) :thumbsup:(y) :thumbsup:
 

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