Man Arrested After $300,000+ Worth of Stolen Pokémon Cards Discovered During Raid — Police Joke: 'Gotta Catch 'Em All'

A antheral successful the UK has been arrested aft constabulary discovered helium was harboring a cache of stolen Pokémon cards worthy £250,000 (approx. $332,500).

The hoard was discovered aft Greater Manchester Police raided a location successful Hyde, Tameside, connected the outskirts of Greater Manchester. It contained cards inactive successful their archetypal integrative labelling and terms tags, with immoderate idiosyncratic cards worthy up to £560 (approx. $744).

As spotted by the BBC, a constabulary spokesperson joked successful a station connected Facebook: "Gotta drawback 'em all." The unit is present trying to reunite the cards with their rightful owners.

"An absorbing warrant successful #Hyde yesterday morning, supported by your Neighbourhood policing teams," the connection from Tameside Police read. "Seizure of thousands of stolen, high-value Pokémon cards with an estimated worthy of implicit £250,000. Attempts volition present beryllium made to instrumentality the cards to the archetypal owners. One antheral arrested.

"Gotta drawback 'Em All 😉"

This isn't the archetypal clip criminals person targeted collectible trading cards. Since the rarest sold successful 2022 for much than $5 million, prices person rocketed, with Tokyo constabulary reported an unprecedented fig of trading paper thefts successful the second fractional of 2022. There's besides been precocious illustration examples successful different parts of the world, including a Minnesota store reportedly having astir $250,000 worthy of cards stolen and a Tokyo antheral allegedly launching a afloat connected heist to get cards. Even an Alabama policeman was allegedly fired for pocketing cards successful Walmart.

In September 2024, a Japanese duo stole $70,000 worthy of Pokémon cards from a store successful Osaka, but not earlier interrogating unit to ascertain which ones were the astir valuable. A akin happening happened successful California successful aboriginal 2024 erstwhile thieves made disconnected with 35,000 Pokémon cards.

Perhaps that's wherefore uncovering Pokémon cards successful 2025 isn’t arsenic casual arsenic it should be. Between Destined Rivals preorders vanishing successful seconds, caller divided enlargement sets successful Black Bolt and White Flare, and Journey Together pursuit cards dominating each feed, Pokémon TCG has ne'er felt much intense. But if you're trying to support up with Pokémon TCG without getting ripped disconnected oregon near behind, cheque retired our usher connected the champion places to start, including the latest update connected what tin beryllium bought wherever from trusted retailers successful the U.S.

Find retired if this Pokémon TCG: Prismatic Evolutions Surprise Box is worthy $59.99.

Image credit: Tameside Police / Facebook.

Vikki Blake is simply a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's besides a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her astatine BlueSky.