Chicago collectible shop hit as suspects steal over $100,000 in Pokémon cards, owner says

A Chicago collectible store has become the latest target in a string of thefts centered on high-value trading cards, with suspects seen in new video stealing more than $100,000 in Pokémon cards, according to the shop’s owner. The footage shows suspects making off with the cards, the owner said, underscoring how the market for the super-valuable keepsakes has increasingly attracted criminal attention.

Specific details about the suspects or how the theft unfolded were not immediately provided by the owner. The case is the latest in what has been described as a growing crime wave around Pokémon cards, as rare and sought-after items command steep prices and lure thieves to specialty retailers.

Store owners and collectors have voiced rising concern about the vulnerability of small shops that stock high-end merchandise. The owner’s account of the loss places the value of the stolen cards at over $100,000. No additional information on arrests or recoveries was immediately available.