The rising value of Pokémon cards has made them a prime target for thieves, prompting Ottawa hobby stores to tighten security.
Danielle Lavigne, co-owner of Daniereon in Orléans, revealed that thefts are becoming more frequent, particularly on holidays. Her store was burglarized on Canada Day just a month after opening, with thieves making off with $10,000 worth of goods, including Pokémon cards, in a smash-and-grab lasting only 53 seconds.
This January, two GameZetera locations in Ottawa were hit within days of each other, with Pokémon cards among the stolen items. Security footage showed methods akin to jewelry heists, including using a vehicle to ram a storefront and breaking in through a wall.
Business owners report that these incidents are part of a growing trend, forcing them to invest heavily in security measures.
Pokémon trading cards, part of the beloved Japanese franchise since the 1990s, have skyrocketed in value. Some collectors pay astronomical prices, with YouTuber Logan Paul making headlines for a Guinness World Records-certified trade worth $5.275 million in 2022.
The combination of high value, portability, and untraceability makes Pokémon cards an appealing target for criminals. Lavigne noted that stolen cards are often resold quickly on Facebook Marketplace. “A lot of card shops get broken into,” she said. “We did anticipate it would happen at some point, we just didn’t anticipate it happening a month in.”
Alexander St-Louis, owner of Carta Magica, another Ottawa-based trading card store, has also faced theft. “We have added gates, security cameras, alarms—all the bells and whistles,” he said. “This isn’t something to cheap out on.”
Recent cases across Ontario highlight the staggering sums at stake. In October 2024, York Regional Police in Aurora recovered Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards worth an estimated $100,000. In 2023, Halton police seized Pokémon cards valued at $400,000 from a stolen goods haul, later charging two individuals linked to break-ins at collectible stores across multiple cities, including Oakville, Burlington, York, London, Brantford, and Niagara.
Elsewhere in Canada, an Alberta hobby store owner stopped stocking Pokémon cards after being targeted twice in a year.
Given the economic climate, St-Louis believes the trend will continue. “Times are tough,” he said. “Some people would prefer not working and finding an easy solution to grab money, and hitting these types of stores maybe seems like an easy thing to do.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
