$300,000 Worth of Rare Pokémon Cards Stolen in Two Heists

This past weekend, the Pokémon TCG community faced a wave of criminal activity, with over $300,000 in rare cards stolen across two separate incidents in Southern California. In one case, thieves targeted a trading card store, breaking in and smashing display cases, while in another, a collector was held at gunpoint for a briefcase filled with rare cards.

Simi Sportscards in Simi Valley was hit early Sunday morning, with CCTV footage capturing a group of at least five individuals breaking in and stealing valuable Pokémon TCG cards along with rare sports trading cards after sawing through the front door. Store owner Jake Miller estimates that the damage from the break-in will exceed $50,000, factoring in repairs, lost merchandise, and necessary security upgrades.

Later that same night, just before 10 PM, another theft occurred, with police suggesting a possible connection between the two incidents. This time, a regular customer of RWT Collective in Sawtelle was followed and confronted at gunpoint in an underground parking lot. The thieves made off with a briefcase containing cards valued at around $300,000. The LAPD is actively investigating both incidents to determine any links.

The rising popularity of the Pokémon TCG in recent years has unfortunately coincided with an increase in crimes targeting these valuable cards. Just a month ago, a group of thieves stole approximately $100,000 worth of cards from a store in Burbank, California, in a heist that also involved sports cards. Beyond California, a USPS employee in New Jersey admitted to stealing over $100,000 in valuable memorabilia, including Pokémon cards, while a man in the UK was apprehended with a stash of stolen cards worth over $300,000. Reports from Japan even suggest that organized crime is using rare cards for money laundering activities.