US EditionVancouver police arrest Pokémon card theft suspect who allegedly bear sprayed sellers
- Collectible shops from Las Vegas and New York City to Vancouver, Canada, and Nottingham, England, have reported a surge in robberies this year, with stolen Pokémon card merchandise totaling over $500,000.
- Pokémon card values rose more than 145% over the past year, with buyers spending $450 million this January alone according to Card Ladder, driven by celebrity influence and multi-generational demand.
- Thieves exploit the cards' compact nature, which allows high-value heists with minimal effort; Keith Wallis faces up to 90 years in prison for 75 thefts at Targets in Tallahassee, Florida, from July 2025 to February 2026.
- Rising crime rates have made insurance companies reluctant to cover card shops; shop owner Andrew Engelbeck installed security cameras and strobe lights after multiple break-ins at Next Level the Gamers Den.
- Multi-Generational demand ensures market longevity, as Nick Jarman, CEO of the Certified Trading Card Association, notes that "demand just keeps refreshing instead of aging out" among both children and adult collectors.
82 Articles
82 Articles
Serial Pokémon Card Robber Arrested After Spraying Bear Repellent After Demanding a Deal A man in his 20s who committed a series of robberies targeting expensive and rare Pokémon cards has been arrested by police in Canada. The suspect obtained the cards by spraying bear repellent spray on sellers during face-to-face transactions. (Local time, April 4)
In the early morning hours of March 7, two thieves broke a vinyl-lined shop window in a Graham store in Washington. Alarms sounded as they filled several containers with stolen merchandise. In less than two minutes, they took almost $10,000 in products. The target: letters from Pokémon. It wasn’t the first time that the owner’s store Andrew Engelbeck, Next Level the Gamers Den, was assaulted by game collectible cards. It has happened several tim…
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Sting operation from Vancouver police catches alleged Pokémon card thief who used bear spray
Staff Sgt. Ryan Campbell says thefts occurred on five consecutive days from March 23, with victims saying they were bear-sprayed and robbed after arranging meetings on Facebook Marketplace.
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