I guess someone's gotta collect 'em all, and it appears that thieves are doing just that, as yet another high-stakes burglary in Southern California has resulted in just about $1 million worth of Pokemon cards being stolen from a FedEx truck.
According to a report by The New York Times' sports journalism department, The Athletic (via ABC News), a FedEx truck parked near the authenticating and grading business known as the Professional Sports Authenticator in Santa Ana, California, was robbed on October 13. The Santa Ana Police Department said in a statement to ABC News that hundreds of cards were stolen, with the robbery estimated at a value of $963,000.
"The pallets contained various trading cards, including, but not limited to, sports cards and Pokemon cards," the Santa Ana Police Department said in a statement. "However, the exact value of the stolen items has not yet been determined."
According to the Santa Ana Police Department, the thieves broke into the FedEx truck, stole two full pallets of cards, and tore through a third pallet for even more packaged goodies--all of which belonged to collectors from across the country who submitted their cards to the Professional Sports Authenticator to be authenticated and graded for collecting or reselling purposes.
Collectors, the parent company of the Professional Sports Authenticator, told ABC News that in the wake of the theft, it has deactivated the certificates for the missing cards and notified its other businesses in its marketplace to "be on the lookout" for the cards in case they turn up.
"We are aware of a theft involving a third-party shipping vehicle carrying PSA-graded items," the company said. "We are working closely with law enforcement and the carrier as the investigation continues. Our customer service team has contacted affected customers directly and is arranging compensation based on fair market value. We understand the impact this has on collectors involved, many of whom see these cards as far more than a financial asset."
FedEx is also aware of the burglary, telling ABC News that it's cooperating with police.
"The security of our customers' shipments is a top priority, and we are working with local law enforcement in their investigation," the corporation said. "Further questions should be referred to local investigators."
This seems to be a regular occurrence these days: people stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of Pokemon cards, sometimes at gunpoint. What was once a fun hobby has become quite fraught as people battle each other to get their hands on cards. I don't know what happened because it wasn't like this 30 years ago, but soon, you may need a face just to buy Pokemon cards. Yikes.