The Greedy Report: Pokémon Card Thieves Strike Twice

> Quick answer: Thieves went after Pokémon cards in two separate cases: a smash-and-grab at a toy store in Australia, and a theft of high-value cards in Kerman, California, near Fresno, which led to an arrest in Tracy. To protect your own cards, lock your best ones away instead of displaying them, keep quiet about where you store them, and photograph every graded slab.

Pokémon cards are now a target for thieves. In two separate cases, criminals went straight for the cardboard.

If you own a binder or run a shop, this matters to you. Here's what happened, why it keeps happening, and what you can do about it.

What happened in the Pokémon card thefts?

The first case was in Australia. Thieves hit a toy store in a smash-and-grab, and one of the things they took was Pokémon cards. News24.com.au reported on the theft.

The second case was in California. High-value Pokémon cards were stolen in Kerman, a town near Fresno. Police later arrested a man in Tracy, according to YourCentralValley.com and FOX40.

The two thefts happened on different continents and targeted different kinds of places, but thieves wanted the same thing in both.

Why are thieves targeting Pokémon cards?

Pokémon cards are small, easy to carry and easy to resell. Some of them are also worth real money.

That matters because the market is big. Some estimates put the yearly trading-card market at around $50 billion. Investor Peter Levin says collectibles as a whole are worth more than $300 billion.

When something is valuable and fits in a pocket, it gets stolen. Pokémon cards now fit that description.

How much are Pokémon cards worth?

It depends a lot on the card. Most cards are worth very little. A small number are worth a lot.

For example, Kotaku put together a list of the 15 highest-priced cards from the 30th Celebration set. One of them is an RGB Mew listed at $4,000.

That's one card. A thief who grabs a stack of the right cards can walk off with a lot of value in a few seconds. That's why stores and collectors need to know which of their cards are worth the most.

Are Pokémon cards really a good investment?

Some investors think so. Peter Levin says Pokémon cards have beaten the S&P 500 by 3,000%, citing an assessment from the Wall Street Journal.

Levin owns more than 500,000 trading cards and calls them an alternative asset. In other words, he treats them the way other people treat stocks or property.

It's worth being careful here. That figure is one investor's claim, and past performance doesn't promise future returns. Still, it helps explain why more people are paying attention to cardboard, including people you'd rather keep away from your collection.

How do I protect my Pokémon card collection at home?

You don't need an expensive security setup. Just follow a few simple habits.

Lock your best cards away. A display shelf looks great, but it also shows anyone who walks by what you have. Keep your most valuable cards in a locked space and keep the display for cards you can afford to lose.

Don't post where you keep them. Showing off a pull online is part of the hobby. Showing your room, your safe or your storage spot is not. Leave out anything that reveals where the cards are kept.

Photograph every slab. Take clear photos of each graded card, front and back. If something goes missing, those photos give you a record of exactly what you owned.

Why should you photograph graded slabs?

Grading companies like PSA, CGC and TAG grade cards on a scale from 1 to 10. They then seal each card in a protective plastic case called a slab.

Each slab carries its own label from the grading company. A clear photo of that label gives you a specific record of the card. If you ever need to report a theft or prove what you owned, those photos are far more useful than a rough description.

Keep the photos backed up somewhere other than the device in the same room as your cards.

How can card shops prevent Pokémon card theft?

Shops carry more stock and get more foot traffic, so the risk is higher. Two habits make a big difference.

Keep high-value cards behind the counter. Don't leave your most valuable singles and slabs where a customer can reach them. Make people ask to see them.

Keep cameras on the case. Point cameras directly at the display case, not just the front door. Clear footage helps police and helps you work out what was taken.

The Australian toy store case is a reminder that general retailers are targets too. If you sell Pokémon products, you're part of the market that thieves are watching.

The bottom line

Pokémon cards have become valuable enough to steal, and these two cases show it. The fixes are simple: lock up your best cards, keep your storage private, photograph your slabs, and if you run a shop, keep valuable stock behind the counter and on camera.

Want to know which cards are worth watching? Follow Greedy TCG for more.

FAQ

Where were the Pokémon cards stolen?

One theft was a smash-and-grab at a toy store in Australia. The other involved high-value cards stolen in Kerman, California, near Fresno, and police arrested a man in Tracy.

What do PSA, CGC and TAG do?

They grade trading cards on a scale from 1 to 10. They then seal each card in a protective slab.

What's the easiest way to protect my cards from theft?

Lock your most valuable cards away instead of displaying them, and don't post where you store them. Photograph every graded slab so you have a record if anything goes missing.