Thieves Steal $100k of Pokémon Cards in Overnight Heist Leaving Shop Owner Scrambling
A shop owner in the UK was devastated to discover that someone had broken into his store overnight, stealing valuable Pokémon cards and other collectibles. Early estimates suggest he lost at least $100k worth of merchandise. According to a report by the Peterborough Telegraph, the incident occurred last week at the Collectors Corner shop in Orton Southgate. The thief stole Pokémon cards alongside other well-known TCG products, including Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic: The Gathering. The outlet explains that the thief smashed through a "thick glass door" to get inside. Shop owner Juliano Scibelli noted that the thief was selective about which products he took. "The burglar obviously knew what he wanted," he reportedly said. "He's stolen all of the most expensive trading cards, the ones that sell for about £5,000 or more each. Basically, we have been stripped of everything, from Pokémon cards to a rare Unbroken Bonds booster box." Scibelli told the outlet that police said it was the "highest value break-in in the area for a long time." Despite the value of the stolen merchandise, Scibelli allegedly said he believed he was "not taken seriously," per the BBC. He reportedly told the outlet that the Cambridgeshire Police showed a "lack of urgency," adding, "If this was a jeweler, it would be front-page news." According to the BBC report, Scibelli said CCTV footage showed a lone suspect smashing through quadruple-glazed glass to enter the building. The Peterborough Telegraph reports that it took him 15 minutes to break in, and he stayed on the premises for a further 25 minutes. Police officers allegedly took "about six hours to attend after the burglary was reported." A spokesperson reportedly confirmed that other incidents took priority as suspects were no longer in the area.
The shop owner told the Peterborough Telegraph he had been selling trading cards for 15 years and had opened his shop just 18 months ago. Scibelli reportedly said his business had "been going amazingly well." He also revealed that the incident has cast doubt on the business's future. "Now I've got to think about what I do next and whether to try and go again," he reportedly said. "We will be shut for the foreseeable future." Scibelli fears that the total cost of the burglary may exceed $130,000. Scibelli told the BBC, "There's this stigma that it's 'just cardboard', but some of these cards are worth more than cars or even houses, and it needs to be taken seriously." The Peterborough Telegraph also notes that the raid at the Collectors Corner is just one of several similar crimes reported across the country recently.
