In Southern California, an alarming trend has emerged as thieves target Pokémon cards, with the latest heist in Burbank resulting in over $100,000 worth of stolen goods. This incident adds to a growing list of similar crimes in the area, highlighting the soaring value of these collectible items.
Burbank Heist: A Quick Strike
According to reports, the LA Sports Cards shop in Burbank was the most recent victim, hit on December 2. In a swift operation lasting only three minutes, three masked individuals forced open the store’s entrance, making repeated trips to their getaway car with arms full of Pokémon merchandise. In total, they managed to abscond with approximately $100,000 in collectibles.
NEW: Burglars ransack card shop and steal $100,000 worth of rare Pokémon and sports cards
The owner believes the thieves knew exactly where the merchandise was and planned the job ahead of time
They got away with about $100,000 in merchandise
Police believe the same crew may… pic.twitter.com/zMIurJ86U9
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) December 6, 2025
The store owner, Kiet Nguyen, observed that the thieves primarily targeted Pokémon cards but also seized sports cards from secured boxes. Nguyen remarked that Pokémon cards are appealing targets because they are easily sold without raising suspicion due to their widespread availability.
An Ongoing Series of Crimes
The heist is part of what appears to be a series of coordinated raids on card shops throughout Southern California, with reports suggesting that the same group may have committed up to six similar burglaries recently. During one of these events, a suspect’s face was partially captured by security cameras, and authorities are seeking public assistance in identifying the individuals involved.
The Rising Value of Pokémon Cards
The recent wave of thefts underscores the increased perception of Pokémon cards as valuable assets. Last year, reports surfaced about Japanese crime syndicates potentially using these cards for money laundering. In the United States, this is just one incident among many in the past year. With Pokémon’s popularity showing no signs of waning, and new games anticipated next year, such incidents are expected to persist.