Armed Robbers Steal $110,000 in Pokémon Cards From New York City Shop
The heist targeted rare cards worth up to $18,000 each during a community event.
It only took three minutes, but the damage was real. Three armed men stormed a Manhattan Pokémon card store, holding customers at gunpoint while smashing display cases and grabbing rare collectibles valued at over $110,000. The robbery at Poké Court on West 13th Street specifically targeted high-value items, including a first-edition Charizard card worth $15,000.
The timing was particularly brazen. About 50 people were gathered for the shop’s first community event since opening in November. One robber pulled a gun while another blocked the exit, as a third used a hammer to break into cases holding cards priced between $400 and $18,000.
The incident is part of a nationwide wave of trading card thefts. A California shop had $300,000 worth of cards stolen this month, while a shop in Massachusetts lost over $100,000 in merchandise in July. There has been a renewed interest in Pokémon as both nostalgia and investment, with robbers viewing rare cards as easy targets for quick profits.
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It only took three minutes, but the damage was real. Three armed men stormed a Manhattan Pokémon card store, holding customers at gunpoint while smashing display cases and grabbing rare collectibles valued at over $110,000. The robbery at Poké Court on West 13th Street specifically targeted high-value items, including a first-edition Charizard card worth $15,000.
The timing was particularly brazen. About 50 people were gathered for the shop’s first community event since opening in November. One robber pulled a gun while another blocked the exit, as a third used a hammer to break into cases holding cards priced between $400 and $18,000.
The incident is part of a nationwide wave of trading card thefts. A California shop had $300,000 worth of cards stolen this month, while a shop in Massachusetts lost over $100,000 in merchandise in July. There has been a renewed interest in Pokémon as both nostalgia and investment, with robbers viewing rare cards as easy targets for quick profits.
Sign up for the Entrepreneur Daily newsletter to get the news and resources you need to know today to help you run your business better. Get it in your inbox.
