‘Targets on their back’: Trading card shops, collectors face rising thefts

book of the prophet daniel Cruz was browsing displays of trading cards in Calgary’s ShoeBox Games & coffee shop endure oct when he saw 2 people walk in, both dressed in black and sporting skull face paint — not an unusual sight on Halloween.

About 15 minutes after they arrived, Cruz saw one of the pair go behind the counter and grab three boxes of trading cards before trying to make a run for the exit. 

The value of just one box? Cruz, an avid card collector, estimates it at about $600 to $1,000.

He and other bystanders tried to intervene in the theft, but in the chaos of the scene one of the thieves punched him in the back of his head, leaving him with a concussion.

The experience, Cruz said, is just one example of a growing threat for shops like ShoeBox Games & Cafe, as Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering cards, as well as ones from the increasingly popular One Piece, have skyrocketed in value in recent years.

“The whole collectors’ market is so crazy right now,” he said. €œAnd just the fact that our game is being targeted for things like this, it makes it really hard for other people to get into the market as well or even into the hobby because then all of a sudden they're putting targets on their back if they have a big collection in their home.”

Local trading card shop First Player is all too familiar with being the target. The store has been hit twice in the last year — the most recent incident taking place last week.

“This was after a string of break-ins that had happened across the city,” said Nathanael Wilsher, the store’s community lead. He said First Player was just another stop for the thieves.

“They came in, broke down our door and took a lot of our sealed product; some of our loose product as well — just single cards, things like that. €

He estimated the value of the stolen product at around $5,000.

Wilsher is connected with the community of trading shops in Calgary and said he’s heard the majority of them have experienced break-ins or attempts in recent years.

The Calgary Police Service said it wouldn’t give more details on thefts of this nature due to ongoing investigations.

“They are targeted specifically because of the rising value of these cards,” said Wilsher, explaining that factors like the artwork on the card and rarity boost sale value. €œWe often joke that we specialize in expensive cardboard, because that's ultimately what these cards are."

Wilsher said the theft attempts have become exhausting for trading shops, and ruin the fun for community members who just want to play. 

“It only makes the matter of scarcity worse because they'll take these products from people who want to buy it,” he said. €œThey take it for themselves, boost up the price to ten times what market retail sale prices are, and turn a profit as best as they can as quick as they can.”

But the local community of card shops is close, Wilsher said, and keeps each other informed about break-in attempts in an effort to keep each other safe.

Many, including First Player, have increased security at their stores. Cruz said he knows a few shops won't keep their trading card inventory in the store overnight, concerned about thefts.

It’s not just Calgary card shops taking a hit. Several stores across the country and globally have reported break-ins specifically targeting coveted trading cards.

In Canada, rampant thefts have been reported in Toronto, Saskatoon and Edmonton, to name a few. 

The U.K. Has also reported high-profile crimes involving Pokemon cards in recent weeks, according to BBC News.

And earlier this month, NBC News reported a Manhattan Pokemon store was robbed of $100,000 worth of merchandise.

Celebrities have also gotten in on the fun. YouTuber turned part-time pro-wrestler Logan Paul wore a Pikachu Illustrator card around his neck to the ring for WrestleMania 38, in 2022. Considered the most valuable card in the game, Paul originally purchased it for $5.3 million.

Now, he’s put it up for auction. As of this publication, the current bid sits at $5.1 million with about another month to go before closing.

Journalist

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