Pokemon Crime Strikes as Card Store Loses $70,000 of Goods in Armed Robbery

As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed the evolution of gaming culture over the past three decades, I must admit that the surge in Pokemon crime is something I never imagined would come to pass. Back in the day, we were more concerned about catching ’em all than the potential for our precious cards to become targets for thieves.

In the past, Office Jenny’s role in Pokémon might not have been noticed, but that’s not the case nowadays. For years, the police had minimal concerns about Pokémon other than occasional Team Rocket misadventures. However, things have changed, and there’s a significant increase in Pokémon-related crimes. If you’ve been keeping up with recent news, Pokémon items are highly sought after these days, and thieves have certainly noticed. Therefore, when a report emerged about $70,000 USD worth of Pokémon cards being stolen, it didn’t come as a shock to anyone.

The report cropped up from NHK, a prominent news network in Japan. It was there the station confirmed an armed robbery had taken place in Osaka at a hobby shop dedicated to Pokemon cards. Earlier this week, two employees at a Pokemon card shop were wrapping up work at 3:30 am JST when two thieves broke into the building. The pair were armed, and after tying up the workers, they demanded a ton of Pokemon cards.

What Was This Pokemon Crime All About?

Based on the police account, it appears that the burglars weren’t particularly knowledgeable about their target. They were aware that the store contained valuable trading cards, but they struggled to distinguish between high-value collectibles and worthless ones. Consequently, one of the thieves requested the employees point out the expensive cards. Indeed, it’s a reminder that not all criminals are brainy masterminds.

In their heist, the thieves made off with more than 100 cards and an additional sum of approximately $70,000 USD (equivalent to about 10 million yen) from the cards alone. They also swiped the workers’ phones and 250,000 yen in cash during the crime. The workers reported the damages to the police.

A Recent Rise in Pokemon Crime

It’s not hard to guess that the incident left the store workers feeling scared, and they’re far from being the only ones who have been hit by such theft recently. In 2020, there was a significant surge in interest for Pokemon cards within the secondhand market. From vintage rarities to newer chases, Pokemon cards were a popular discussion during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pokemon Company struggled to meet this increased demand, causing many stores to lock up card sets due to widespread shoplifting. Even big retailers like Target and Walmart had to set limits on Pokemon card sales. As the excitement around these cards continued, it caught the attention of both petty thieves and experienced criminals.

Since 2021, there has been an increase in incidents of theft related to Pokemon cards, with some high-profile cases making news in Japan. In 2023, a man from Okinawa was apprehended for stealing over 1,500 Pokemon cards from a store in Tokyo. In the United States during 2022, a thief burrowed through a hobby store’s building to access its collection of Pokemon cards and made off with approximately $300,000 USD worth of merchandise, bypassing the security system in an unusual manner. These stories are just a few examples illustrating the growing problem of Pokemon card heists.

Despite the surge in card printing alleviating the TCG madness somewhat, there’s still a substantial amount of wealth associated with Pokemon. This ranges from scarce trading cards to premium collectibles, making the franchise a lucrative target. Instead of focusing on rubies and diamonds, it appears that modern-day thieves are drawn towards booster packs these days.

2024-09-11 19:41

What Was This Pokemon Crime All About?

A Recent Rise in Pokemon Crime

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