The brazen culprits struck a vending machine at Greenway Plaza in Wetherill Park in the city’s west about 3am.

Vending machine owner Jack Hanna, who runs company Packgrab, said thieves swiped more than 1000 cards.

“It’s two layers of tempered glass, they smashed it and ransacked it, Hanna told nine.com.au.

“Some of them are definitely very expensive.

“Fully stocked I calculated one time it’s like $26,000, on average.”

Packgrab sells popular One Piece, Pokémon, and YU-GI-OH cards from vending machines.

Hanna started the venture after visiting Japan, where the craze began.

He installed that vending machine at the beginning of the year.

The cards are used in a trading game, with the packets hiding what they contain.

Some rare cards can be worth tens of thousands of dollars, but a packet starts at around $9.

Each card features a different creature.

Hanna has reported the theft to NSW Police.

Police are investigating the theft.