Re: But he has some credibility...
The seller makes no assertions regarding numbers other than what he has. You also presume he has the same knowledge you do. If he was a worker (and I am basing this on the story he told on his ebay posting), then either he was supposed to cover them up and failed to do so (which makes taking them theft) or he took items on anothers property (if he did so without consent, it is theft).