APokemon Trading Card Gameshop in Japan was robbed by a fellow seller who ran a competing store just around the corner, and a significant amount of stock was stolen. ThePokemon TCGdebuted in Japan in 1996, and Wizards of the Coast released eight expansions in the West between 1998 and 2003. Several games based on the tabletop hobby were produced, including the Game Boy Color title of the same name and the popularPokemon TCG Onlinefor PC.
ThePokemonfranchise encompasses Nintendo’s video game series, the ongoing anime, the extremely popularPokemon GOmobile game, and the tabletop trading card game and its digital counterpart,Pokemon TCG Pocket. With plenty to look forward to in each sector this year, trading card collectors can anticipate thenew McDonald’s promo cards releasing forPokemon TCG. Fans will be able to bag the cards plus Pokemon toys through Happy Meals, and the starting date is approaching soon.
First reported by Japanese publication Sanspo (thanksAutomaton), it was confirmed that a 35-year-old man had been arrested after reportedly stealing 123 items, worth approximately $94,000, from aPokemontrading card store, similar to another 2024 incident whenthieves were caught on camera stealingPokemoncards. The shocking twist of the report revealed that the thief was the manager of a neighboring trading card store a few blocks away, and the thief’s identity was later revealed on social media. Furthermore, the victimized shop owner also noted onsocial mediathat the thief had other accomplices who were yet to be caught.
Pokemon Trading Card Shop Manager Steals Items Worth $94,000 From Competing Store
Some cases of theft have a brighter ending, including onestolenPokemoncollection in the UK that was later seized by the police, but the sheer amount of valuable items that were taken from the shop owner, reportedly at knife point, shows a sinister side to the lucrative trading card business. Unfortunately, robberies of this kind, concerning the very expensivePokemon TCG, have become commonplace in retail, simply because some cards can be sold for a staggering amount.
Despite several purchases being more accessible online now, there’s nothing that matches the nostalgia and excitement of scoring trading cards during in-person events or at stores, which makes reports of store theft all the more saddening. OnePokemon TCGfan recently made an amazing discovery at a local store, which solidifies the importance of keeping these outlets in business and thriving for the community.
