A Massachusetts man has been arrested for allegedly stealing $113,000 worth of Pokémon cards and collectibles from a shop in a smash-and-grab heist.
A Pokémon GO app displayed on a smartphone with a Pokémon GO logo in the background. (Photo Illustration by Thiago Prudêncio/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Based on the rarity and value of the booster boxes involved, detectives determined that it was highly unlikely the same person would possess both without being connected to the original theft,” a police statement said.
Nunes was arrested soon after. At the time, he had a warrant for a felony, police said.
A search of an apartment where Nunes had been staying yielded a shoebox containing serialized and graded Pokémon cards matching those stolen from 1st Edition Collectibles, authorities said.
“Pokemon: Detective Pikachu” is an urban fantasy mystery film available on Tubi! (Tubi)
The cards found in the apartment were identified as:
- 1999 Charizard 1st Edition (Grade 8.5) — valued at $12,232
- 2006 EX Charizard #100 (Grades 9 – Beckett and PSA) — valued at $10,600 each
- 2003 Skyridge Charizard (Grade 8.5) — valued at $7,131
- 1999 Base 1st Edition Blastoise (Grade 7.5) — valued at $2,000
- 1999 Charizard Holo Shadowless (Grade 9) — valued at $5,535
In a Facebook post, 1st Edition Collectibles thanked the police and other collectible shops in the area. The store also announced that proceeds from sales of its “Comeback Collection T-shirts” will be donated to charity.
“Crime Doesn’t Pay and Karma is Real,” the post states.
In Florida, a trading card shop took a big hit on Monday after a masked suspect broke into the business and stole nearly $30,000 worth of Pokémon cards. Within 75 seconds, a suspect stole between $25,000 and $30,000 worth of rare Pokémon cards, according to FOX 35 Orlando.
