Pokémon Card Heist Takes a Wild Turn as Thief Uses Chainsaw to Steal $12,000 Worth of Cards

For years, we’ve been tracking the surge in Pokémon card thefts as the demand for these collectible treasures has skyrocketed amid supply shortages and rampant scalping. However, we’ve never encountered a case where a chainsaw was the tool of choice for such a heist. That’s the bizarre situation involving Clayton Warren, who was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida, and faces charges of burglary and grand theft after making off with $12,000 worth of Pokémon cards from the Collection Realm store in Lake Park.

Local news reports indicate that the store owner alerted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office late last week about the overnight break-in. Surveillance footage revealed the thief using a battery-powered chainsaw to cut a triangular hole in a hurricane-proof window—because, well, Florida. In a twist of fate, the thief injured himself during the heist, leaving behind blood at the scene, and his license plate was also captured on camera. According to the arrest report, Warren was apprehended later that same day and released on a $20,000 surety bond the following evening, May 22. He faces charges for causing damages exceeding $1,000 and stealing property valued between $10,000 and $20,000.

The store owner reviewed the footage and estimated that around $12,000 worth of Pokémon inventory was stolen, including sleeved cards and bulk items. Interestingly, he also found footage of someone resembling Warren visiting the store just days prior. It seems this thief had a plan.

While I’m not one to offer tips to aspiring burglars, it’s probably best to steer clear of loud, unwieldy power tools, avoid parking your own vehicle right outside the target, and definitely try not to injure yourself during the operation.