Pokémon cards targeted in 2 New Jersey store break-ins
Thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of Pokémon cards in two different store break-ins in New Jersey this month, reflecting the trading cards' increasing popularity and value, according to authorities and store officials.
The most recent incident took place at Lurk Cards and Collectibles in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, at about 1:45 a.m. Wednesday, police said.
Two masked thieves were seen on video smashing the store's glass door with what appeared to be a hammer and screwdriver, running directly to the Pokémon cards located behind the counter, and taking 10 to 20 boxes before jumping in a car parked outside and driving off, store manager Julian Salugao told ABC News.
The cards stolen were worth about $1,000 but could be resold on the secondary market for two or three times that price, Salugao noted.
It followed two incidents that took place at a similar store around two miles away. Frank's Card Shop was targeted in a similar break-in on Wednesday, July 1, and again in another attempted break-in on Friday, July 10, according to store owner Frank Romean. About $10,000 worth of Pokémon cards were stolen in the first incident, Romean told ABC News.
Based on video footage of the incidents from the two stores, it's believed that the break-ins were carried out by the same two individuals, according to Salugao and Romean.
A warrant was issued on Thursday for the arrest of one of the suspects whom detectives identified as Rafael A. Gordian, 31, according to Washington Township Police. They're investigating the incidents alongside Gloucester Township Police.
Police are still working to identify the second suspect.
The thefts occurred amid an increase in similar incidents targeting Pokémon cards across the country due to a rise in their value and popularity, experts said.
Pokémon cards have appreciated a cumulative 3,821% since 2004, outperforming the S&P 500's 483%, according to Elliot Riley-Walsh, founder and CEO of Valart, a U.K.-based collectibles management company.
"Trading cards is the hottest I've ever seen it in my entire life," Leighton Sheldon, president of collectibles and memorabilia company Just Collect, told ABC News.
Sheldon, who has been in the trading card industry for decades, said Pokémon card values have been "skyrocketing."
Riley-Walsh told ABC News he believes Pokémon cards became popular in 2020 during the pandemic and began to spread on social media with Pokémon card influencers, who post "box breaking" videos of themselves opening their packs of cards.
Pokémon cards come in packs, the contents of which are unknown to buyers upon purchasing. A pack's cards could be highly valuable or of average value depending on the luck of the draw.
"It's like the lottery," Riley-Walsh said. "You never know what you're going to pull. It is always pot luck because no one knows what's in the packs. I think that adds to the excitement."
Social media influencer Logan Paul sold the world's most expensive Pokémon card at an auction in February for a record $16.5 million, according to Guinness World Records. He purchased the card, called the Pikachu Illustrator, for $5.3 million in 2021, Guinness World Records said.
"Pokémon cards are a big target right now," Romean said. "They're extremely popular. They're easy to sell."
Washington Township Police and Gloucester Township Police are continuing to investigate the two burglaries and ask the public to reach out with any information that could assist in the investigation.
"It was only a matter of time for it to happen to us," Salugao said of the break-in. "But hopefully, we're the last person that this happens to, and we're able to get this stopped."
