A group of armed criminals stormed a well-known card game shop in Manhattan, New York City, brandishing firearms to threaten employees and customers who were participating in a social event inside the store. They stole rare cards valued at over $100,000 USD, or more than 3.4 million baht. Some cards were priced as high as nearly 200,000 baht. The store owner confirmed that everyone is safe but shaken by the incident.
The New York Police Department released a report on the shocking crime in which three burly men entered the "Poké Court" store in Manhattan on Wednesday night (14 Jan). The suspects brandished guns to threaten employees and customers attending a social gathering inside the shop before stealing rare Pokémon cards, cash, and mobile phones and fleeing the scene.
From evidence released by the store, a man dressed in black with his face covered aimed a gun at those inside the shop who were raising their hands above their heads. The report states the stolen property is valued at about $100,000 USD (around 3.4 million baht). Some rare collectible cards are worth up to $5,500 USD (approximately 190,000 baht), including popular character "Pikachu" cards kept in tamper-proof plastic cases to guarantee authenticity.
Courtney Shin, the store owner, confirmed via Instagram that all employees and customers are safe despite the display case being smashed and damaged. She said, "This hobby should be a safe space. Paper cards can be replaced, but no one should have to go through such a terrible experience."
The trend of Pokémon card thefts is spreading widely across the United States. This is not the first incident; earlier in January, over $300,000 USD (about 10.5 million baht) worth of Pokémon cards were stolen from a customer who had just left a store in Los Angeles. In December last year, a card shop in Burbank, California, was also robbed, with thieves stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of goods within just two minutes.
Pokémon is a globally influential franchise. In 2024, it generated $12 billion USD in licensing revenue, surpassing major toy company Mattel. Limited-edition collectible cards have become prime targets for criminals due to their high value and ease of conversion to cash on the black market.
Currently, New York police have not apprehended the suspects and are urgently reviewing surveillance footage to track down and prosecute the criminals.
/sourceUSA TODAY