Matt Finn reports a rise in Pokemon card thefts in California and beyond. Recently, San Francisco police apprehended juvenile suspects using pepper spray and high-tech tools in a robbery. In Brentwood, CA, masked thieves stole thousands in cards in less than a minute, leading the owner to increase security measures.
Last week in Santa Ana, thieves targeted a FedEx truck outside Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA). Nearly $1 million worth of trading cards, valuing about $963,000, were stolen. These cards, graded by PSA, included sports and Pokemon variants and were set to return to their owners.
The bandits broke into the truck by tampering with the lock while the FedEx driver was absent. Among the victims, card collector and YouTuber, SKY-B, lost 104 cards, many described as unique and irreplaceable. “These were ultra-rare or 1-of-1s, meaning they’re singular in existence,” he shared.
Collectors acknowledged the theft involving a third-party shipping vehicle with PSA-graded items. They are cooperating with law enforcement and the carrier during ongoing investigations. They confirmed deactivating certificates for these items and alerted marketplace partners to watch for rare items.
Collectors have also contacted affected clients to arrange compensation based on fair market value, recognizing the impact on collectors who value these cards beyond their financial worth. No arrests have been made, and the stolen cards remain unrecovered.