$100,000 Worth of Rare Pokémon Cards Stolen by Thieves

Pokemon cards are hotter than ever, but that popularity has led to a recent heist at a local card shop in California. On December 2, LA Sports Cards in Burbank was targeted by thieves who made off with over $100,000 worth of Pokemon cards and other collectibles. Security footage captured the trio in action, and store owner Kiet Nguyen remarked that they seemed to know exactly where to find the most valuable cards. They also took unopened Pokemon boxes, which are easy to sell due to their availability, along with rare sports cards featuring icons like Mickey Mantle and Ronaldo. The whole operation took about three minutes, and it appears this group may have struck other card shops in Southern California as well. One thief inadvertently revealed part of his face during a previous heist, which could aid law enforcement in tracking them down. Nguyen mentioned that the store is insured and plans to enhance its security measures. This isn’t the first time Pokemon cards have been associated with crime; in late 2024, reports surfaced about the Japanese mob using them for money laundering. Meanwhile, dedicated Pokemon fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming Switch 2 game, Pokemon Pokopia, set to launch on March 5, 2026, with veteran players already speculating on its connections to earlier titles.