Pokémon and Other Trading Cards Targets of Unprecedent Number of Robberies in Japan
Criminals in Tokyo have committed a number of robberies targeting high-value trading cards, the thefts amounting to “tens of millions of yen” in damages, according to a new report. The Japan Times.
first discovered by Nintendo LifeIn late 2022, a Japan Times article, citing sources from the Metropolitan Police Department, described how “several” stores in Tokyo’s Akihabara district fell victim to a late-night card robbery.
In one December break-in, criminals took 60 high-value cards worth a total of ¥8.5 million (US$64,147). This is just one of his five heists targeting trading cards that have occurred since the summer of 2022.
But not all robberies were of a physical nature. On December 14th last year, a 25-year-old man was arrested for buying about 1,000 Pokemon cards using a stolen credit card from an online shop. The man is believed to have been arrested by police after reselling the stolen crest at a second-hand card shop in Tokyo.
An unnamed source in the Japan Times article also said cards were easy targets for thieves, saying, “Stolen cards are not uniquely numbered and can be taken overseas, so their whereabouts are difficult to find.” It’s hard to pinpoint,” he said.
The Japanese trading card market was estimated to be worth around ¥178 billion (US$1.34 billion) in fiscal year 2021 ending March 2022, according to the website. StatistaThis accounted for almost 20% of the national toy market at the time.
It’s worth noting that the recent surge in crime isn’t the first time humanity’s thirst for collectible cards has put individuals on the wrong side of the law.
In March 2021, a man was arrested after using a rope to climb down from a six-story building to break into another store in the Higashi-Ikebukuro district. The 28-year-old man reportedly managed to escape with one million yen (about US$9,100) worth of Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards and thousands of dollars worth of cash before being arrested by police.
Just months later, in March, a Georgian man was arrested for using a fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief loan to purchase the first edition Shadowless Holographic Charizard.
I can only hope that the world’s police force can complete the Criminal Pokédex before further damage is done to the world’s precious trading card supply.
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video game news for IGN. With his 8+ years of experience covering the latest developments in multiple scientific fields, he has absolutely no time for cheating. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
