Surge in robberies targeting Pokémon trading cards reported worldwide Toy collectables reach values worth millions

A wave of thefts targeting shops selling Pokémon trading cards has been reported across multiple countries, as the surging value of rare cards fuels criminal interest in the once-niche hobby long viewed as for children only.

Retailers from Hong Kong to the UK and Canada have suffered losses worth tens of thousands of dollars, with recent incidents in Britain highlighted in a BBC report documenting a string of break-ins.

The cards originate from the Japanese Pokémon franchise, launched in 1996 with a multi-season spanning cartoon and merchandise that took the world by storm. It centres on fictional creatures collected and trained by players, while its trading card game allows participants to build decks and compete using character, item, and energy cards.

Long seen as a children’s pastime, Pokémon cards have gained renewed popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly online. Demand has driven up prices for rare items, transforming them into sought-after collectables and, increasingly, investment assets.

The franchise marks its 30th anniversary this year, with record-breaking sales drawing global attention. American YouTube influencer Logan Paul made headlines after purchasing a rare Pikachu Illustrator card for $16.5 million, one of the highest prices ever paid for a trading card.

Auction activity has also intensified. A recent sale by Stanley Gibbons Baldwins saw more than £1.5 million worth of Pokémon-related items sold, underscoring the market’s rapid growth.

While most cards remain relatively inexpensive, the soaring value of particular rare editions has made them an attractive target for thieves. In Hong Kong, two cards worth around $3,500 were stolen from a vendor this week, part of a broader pattern of thefts.

“Some of these thieves, they don't know what they're taking,” said Roy Raftery, a trading card expert at Stanley Gibbons Baldwins. He added, “Thieves know Pokémon is lucrative; they just know Pokémon is worth taking now. And they think it's an easier target than robbing a bank or robbing a jewellery shop.”

Law enforcement officials warn that recovering stolen cards can be difficult. “It’s very difficult to track that type of merchandise, certainly more difficult than something traditional like electronics,” said Sgt. Tige Pollock of the Surrey Police Service, which is investigating a recent break-in at a card shop.

By Nazrin Sadigova