Recent Thefts Target Pokémon Cards Amid Rising Collectible Values

Thieves have carried out several recent heists targeting Pokémon cards in the United States and Canada. These incidents involve smash-and-grab break-ins and armed robberies, resulting in the theft of merchandise valued at tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

April 20, 2026, Elite Sports Cards in Chicago was broken into, with $100,000 worth of merchandise stolen, Ronnie Holloway, the owner, told WLS-TV. In Anaheim, California, three suspects stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of Pokémon cards from a collectibles store in February 2026, according to KABC-TV.

A Pokémon card shop in New York City experienced an armed robbery in January 2026, where thieves took merchandise and cash totaling over $110,000, according to the New York Times and a New York Police Department spokesperson who confirmed the incident to ABC News.

The shop posted on Instagram that three armed robbers locked over 40 people in the store, pointed guns at them, and grabbed merchandise, along with videos of the incident.

Jared Mast, president of Mast Wealth Management Group, which deals in alternative investments including collectibles like Pokémon cards, told ABC News that the value of Pokémon cards has risen by 200% to 300% over the past 12 months. Mast described three waves of value increases over the last decade: in 2016 with the release of the Pokémon Go mobile game, in 2019 and 2020 when celebrities like Logan Paul invested in the collectibles, and currently due to economic uncertainty and job losses related to artificial intelligence.

Mast stated that people are turning to hard assets like Pokémon cards amid currency debasement concerns, and noted Pokémon's status as a major intellectual property.

“More people are starting to realize that they need to find their own source of income," Mast said, citing the loss of jobs due to artificial intelligence (AI). Mast explained that mass-printed Pokémon cards lack unique identifying features, making them easier to resell after theft compared to items like diamonds with documented imperfections. Stolen cards often appear on online marketplaces or are resubmitted for grading to create a new identity for resale, according to Mast.”

and Broader Context Vancouver Police

have offered a safe location outside their headquarters for buyers and sellers of collectibles to meet, as stated in a police report posted on social media. Pokémon cards first hit the market in 1999 and have maintained popularity over decades. These thefts occur alongside other recent heists, such as a major gold heist in Canada announced on January 12, 2026, and a Louvre robbery in October 2025.