Do you have Cincinnati Reds season tickets good for Tuesday's Opening Day? Yes? Don't be so sure. You may have struck out.
A scam involving stolen tickets has the Reds' season ticket office deciding who will get some seats before the games begin. Security workers will know which tickets were stolen and who doesn't belong in seats, said Beth Gladura, an administrative assistant in the season ticket office.
The Reds are already reprinting tickets for some that were stolen, she said.
A local business tipped Cincinnati police, which led to Wednesday night's arrest of four men, Sgt. Mark Hasenohr said.
Roger Alcorn, 26, of Price Hill, is accused of taking $35,000 worth of tickets since March 5 from his job in the mail room at Retail Delivery Service. Police say he sold packets of tickets worth $2,000 for $100 each. He is charged with felony theft.
Three others - Robby Alcorn, 28, of Price Hill; Justin Parsons, 19, of Milford; and William Smith, 28, of Sedamsville - all face charges of receiving stolen property.
A Hamilton County grand jury is expected to decide April 6 whether to indict them.
Police have recovered about $19,000 worth of stolen tickets, but the Reds are left to resolve the problem of the other tickets before Opening Day.
''We want to make darn sure that our season ticket holders are taken care of,'' team spokesman Charles Henderson said.
