Accused Pokemon card bandits busted in California as thefts surge
Matt Finn reports on a rise in Pokémon card thefts in California and other parts of the country. In San Francisco, police arrested juvenile suspects accused of carrying out a pepper-spray robbery with the help of sophisticated tools. In a separate case in Brentwood, California, masked thieves reportedly stole thousands of dollars’ worth of cards in less than a minute, leading the store owner to strengthen security.
A jewelry listing on Facebook Marketplace was connected to a late-night armed robbery at a home in affluent Franklin, Tennessee. Police later pursued three suspects who fled the scene, authorities said.
Officers were called to a home in northeast Franklin shortly after 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Investigators determined that the robbery was linked to jewelry advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace, according to the Franklin Police Department.
The suspects initially escaped, but responding officers spotted them a short time later. A vehicle chase followed and ended with all three men being taken into custody, police said.
A scenic view of Franklin, Tennessee, alongside booking photos of, from left, Ivan Lagos-Espinoza, Jose Paiz-Godoy and Rubel Rodriguez-Lisa. The three face multiple felony charges following an Oct. 9, 2026, armed robbery connected to a Facebook Marketplace jewelry listing, police said. (City of Franklin, TN – Municipal Government Facebook/Franklin Police Department)
Authorities identified the men as Ivan Lagos-Espinoza, 22, and Jose Paiz-Godoy, 23, both from Nashville, along with Rubel Rodriguez-Lisa, 19, of Lebanon.
All three are facing multiple charges, including aggravated robbery, felony evading and tampering with evidence.
The alleged robbery took place in a community known for its wealth and luxury homes. Franklin’s city website describes the area as “one of the wealthiest cities in one of the wealthiest counties in the United States.”
An aerial view of Franklin, Tennessee, an affluent community in Williamson County. Police arrested three men following an Oct. 9, 2026, armed robbery at a home in northeast Franklin. (City of Franklin, TN – Municipal Government Facebook)
Realtor.com reported that Franklin’s median home sale price reached $903,410 in September 2026, while the median listing price was $1.1 million.
In Williamson County, where Franklin is located, the median home sale price stood at $929,990, according to the real estate website.
Police said the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation and the arrests.
The case has also led authorities to caution people who sell items online about the dangers of inviting strangers to their homes, especially when high-value merchandise is involved.
Police recommended arranging online transactions in public, well-lit places where other people and surveillance cameras are present whenever possible. For expensive items, authorities advised buyers and sellers to meet at a police department or another law enforcement facility.
Facebook Marketplace listings appear on a smartphone in this file photo. Franklin, Tennessee, police say an Oct. 9, 2026, armed robbery was connected to jewelry advertised on the platform. The listings pictured are unrelated to the case. (Nicolas Tucat/ AFP via Getty Images)
Sellers should bring another person to the meeting, avoid carrying substantial amounts of cash and refrain from sharing unnecessary personal details, including information about their homes, schedules or other valuables, police said.
Authorities warned that jewelry, electronics and other high-priced goods can draw the attention of criminals.
“If something about the buyer, seller or proposed meeting location does not feel right, cancel the transaction,” the department advised.
News Outlet contacted Meta for additional information.


