Pokémon cards beloved of Millennials and which have become valuable collectors’ items are now being targeted by ruthless gangs in a series of burglaries and thefts.
Criminals are breaking into homes and businesses but bypassing jewellery and electricals, and instead targeting cards associated with the 30-year-old Japanese movie franchise.
In one shocking case, a man from Surrey was said to have been left devastated at having £300,000 worth of the cards taken from his home in a burglary.
Meanwhile, a Cambridgeshire shopkeeper had £100,000 of the cards stolen.
The cards are said to have become ‘more valuable than gold’ and a retired detective said: ‘It’s clear this is a crime which has netted millions of pounds in total.’
Pokémon – featuring over 1,000 species of pocket monsters including most its most famous face, Pikachu – marked its 30th anniversary on Friday.
The characters appeared in video games, films and TV series, as well as the popular trading card game.
Experts believe the cards have become so valuable due to collectors keeping them in good condition and a ‘nostalgia economy’, fuelled by wealthy collectors.
Juliano Scibelli, outside his shop in Peterborough where cards worth £100,000 were stolen
Pokémon cards, above, have soared in value, attracting the attentions of criminal gangs
Logan Paul, right, and AJ Scaramucci hold the record for the most expensive Pokémon card
Close-up of the 1998 Pikachu Illustrator card, which Logan Paul sold for £12m
Last month, just one card sold for £12m in the US.
YouTuber and wrestler Logan Paul sold the 1998 Pikachu Illustrator card to venture capitalist AJ Scaramucci, son of financier and former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.
In Britain, some victims whose Pokémon cards have been stolen are reportedly in therapy and the cost of thefts has threatened livelihoods.
Pokémon theft victim Juliano Scibelli, who runs the Collectors’ Corner shop in Peterborough, Cambs., had cards worth £100,000 taken in a raid from his store.
The 34-year-old said: ‘People might think Pokémon cards are just a joke. It’s far from it.
‘This is organised crime, on a big scale. There will be Mr Bigs at the top of this, or a series of Mr Bigs.
‘They are the most liquid asset on the planet right now. People are stealing Pokémon cards over gold, silver or any other commodity.
‘It’s a sophisticated crime, impacting collectors and shops around the country.’
Pikachu is the best known character from the franchise which has marked 30th anniversary
Holy grail: original cards featuring the character Charizard are among the most popular
He added: ‘The cards are fetching ten times their value when bought. The popularity is as big as ever, it’s a huge, huge business.
‘I had at least £100,000 taken. It has devastated me. I have had to have therapy because of it. I’m devastated.’
In the raid at his shop on January 27, the gang filled bags with cards valued at £5,000 and sealed boxes worth £8,000.
He said police told him Pokémon cards had become the number one crime target in the country.
And, he said he was aware of a house burglary in Surrey where £300,000 worth of Pokémon cards had been taken.
In another raid, £10,000 worth of cards were taken on a raid at Jakes Breaks shop in Beeston, Nottingham, at 7am on New Year’s Day.
CCTV footage shows two people smash their way in with a bar and leave a mess behind in the process.
Owner Chris Wilmott said: ‘We’ve lost thousands and had to spend thousands on security.
Retired policeman Peter Bleksley believes value of thefts in UK may run into millions of pounds
‘Pokémon cards have become more valuable than gold.
‘The cards have become like gold dust. It’s become a mad situation. You might just think they’re Pokémon cards but these are now a huge commodity.’
‘It’s been so upsetting. But we won’t let these people win.’
Another £10,000 of Pokémon cards were stolen from a warehouse in Retford, north Nottinghamshire, in December when thieves entered by smashing through a brick wall.
Experts say the most valuable cards are from the ‘base set’ or first original set of Pokémon cards, from the late 1990s, featuring characters Charizard, a large orange-coloured, dragon-like creature, Blastoise and Venusaur.
Jonathan Holloway, founder of Pokémon card authentication and pre-grading company Validoe, said: ‘If you can find a base set first edition Charizard that is in pristine condition, now you’re talking six figures.’
Blastoise, known as Kamex in Japan, is a blue, tortoise-like Pokémon
Venusaur is a squat amphibian Pokémon with bumpy, blue-green skin, red eyes and snout
Charizard, a large orange-coloured, dragon-like creature, appears on valuable playing cards
Other incldents in the UK have included the discovery of a stolen haul of rare Pokémon cards worth an estimated £250,000 in Hyde, Greater Manchester, last May.
In Cwmbran, South Wales, a thief ransacked a games shop taking £65,000 worth of rare Pokémon cards last month.
Shop owner Alex Badham said many cards were damaged by petrol in the thief’s failed getaway and were now practically worthless – adding the future of his business now relied heavily on the outcome of an insurance claim.
Retired Metropolitan Police detective Peter Bleksley said the new crimewave – which is also taking place in countries including the US and Japan – showed how ruthless organised criminals were.
He said: ‘They will stop at nothing and exploit any means they can. They are utterly ruthless. They have cunning and knowledge.
‘It’s clear this is a crime which has netted them millions of pounds in total.’
