In a brazen heist on December 2, 2025, a trio of thieves made off with over $100,000 worth of rare Pokémon cards and collectibles from LA Sports Cards in Burbank, California. The robbers, captured on surveillance footage, demonstrated knowledge of the store layout, heading directly for the most valuable items.
Store owner Kiet Nguyen reported that the thieves took unopened Pokémon boxes, which can be resold easily, as well as rare sports cards featuring icons like Mickey Mantle and Cristiano Ronaldo. The entire robbery was executed in a mere three minutes, and authorities suspect this group may have hit other card shops in Southern California as well.
One of the thieves inadvertently revealed part of his face during a previous crime, potentially aiding police in tracking down the culprits. Nguyen reassured customers that the store is insured and will be enhancing its security measures following this incident. This isn’t the first time Pokémon cards have been connected to criminal activities; last year, reports surfaced of the Japanese mob allegedly using Pokémon cards for money laundering.
Meanwhile, Pokémon fans are looking forward to the upcoming game, Pokémon Pokopia, scheduled for release on March 5, 2026. Speculation is already rife about how this new title might connect to older games in the franchise.
