A group of thieves pulled off an audacious heist in Anaheim, digging into a collector’s shop and making off with nearly $200,000 in Pokémon cards.
The theft occurred early Wednesday at Dow Collectibles, located on North Harbor Boulevard. Local police provided details about the incident.
According to investigators, the culprits breached an office wall, utilizing a sledgehammer to create a tunnel leading into the adjacent card shop.
Security footage captured the suspects entering through the tunnel. They were seen smashing a display case after gaining access.
Law enforcement stated the thieves opened the case and filled a large bag with $180,000 worth of cards.
The shop owner, Duy Pham, expressed disbelief upon receiving an alert about the break-in.
“When I looked at the video, I saw them coming through the wall,” Pham mentioned. “My heart was racing. I immediately called the police and hurried over.”
Interestingly, the thieves seemed unfazed by electronics, focusing solely on the collectible cards.
“They ignored our computers and cameras,” Pham noted. “Their goal was the cards.”
Damage was evident from KTLA video footage, showing the aftermath inside the store.
As of now, no arrests have been made, though police are actively pursuing leads in the investigation.
This incident marks yet another case of thieves targeting collectible stores for rare cards. Earlier this year, robbers stole $300,000 worth of Pokémon cards in two separate heists in Los Angeles, with one theft even caught on camera using a power saw.
According to a shop owner, the value of Pokémon cards is significantly increasing, with some cards fetching thousands of dollars.
“Each card can be worth up to $10,000,” Pham shared. “People are starting to realize there’s money to be made here.”
He also added, “It feels like we were bound to face something like this eventually. In this line of work, you almost feel like a target.”
