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Police in Laval warn of violent Pokémon crime wave targeting sellers on Marketplace
Police say 30 cases since January 2025 have led to violent thefts, including seven pepper-spray attacks, as sellers were targeted through Facebook Marketplace.
- Between June 9 and June 11, Laval Police arrested 10 male youths, ages 16 to 18, in connection with robberies involving Pokémon cards and MacBooks. Suspects face charges including robbery, assault, and possession of property obtained by crime.
- Posing as interested buyers on Facebook Marketplace, the suspects arranged meetings with sellers offering Pokémon cards or MacBooks. When victims arrived, suspects allegedly used violence to seize goods and fled without payment.
- Police recorded 30 incidents linked to Pokémon card sales since January 2025, with 11 occurring since March 1, 2026. Seven cases involved violent attacks, including victims being pepper-sprayed during transactions.
- SPAL recommends sellers meet in well-lit, public areas with a trusted companion and verify buyer accounts before transactions. The force also operates a designated safe transaction zone at 2911 Boulevard Chomedey.
- Rising Pokémon card values have fueled a nationwide trend of thefts, with break-ins recently reported in British Columbia and the Greater Toronto Area. Experts attribute the surge to the significant appreciation of trading cards.
Insights by Ground AI
26 Articles
26 Articles
Marketplace announcements: acts of violence related to the sale of Pokémon cards and MacBook are of concern to the Laval Police Service.
·Montreal, Canada
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Facebook Marketplace scams involving Pokémon cards, laptops on rise: Laval police
Police in Laval, Que., say they're seeing a rise in Facebook Marketplace scams specifically involving the purchase of Pokémon cards and Apple's MacBook laptops. There have been 11 cases targeting the popular trading card game since March.
·Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources26
Leaning Left16Leaning Right3Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution70% Left
Bias Distribution
- 70% of the sources lean Left
70% Left
L 70%
C 17%
13%
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