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Pokemon

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772167191762597719501_1412571670229352_5766450741883076697_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Facebook/Pokemon</div>NEW YORK — What began as a quiet meetup of Pokemon enthusiasts at a US store ended with an armed robbery in which masked men held the group at gunpoint to steal more than $100,000 in trading cards.The January heist in New York was the latest in a string of thefts targeting collectors of Pokemon, the Japanese media franchise that marks its 30th anniversary on Friday.Pokemon cards, bearing &quot;little monsters&quot; that attract children as well as adult superfans, have soared in value in recent years.US influencer Logan Paul this month set a new world record by banking $16.5 million with his sale of a rare Pikachu card — arguably the most iconic Pokemon character.But high prices have attracted criminals keen to cash in.Pokemon cards &quot;are high value in a small footprint, demand is broad and consistent, and the resale ecosystem is large,&quot; said Nick Jarman, founder and CEO of the Certified Trading Card Association.&quot;That combination means stolen product can move quickly — sometimes across state lines — through a mix of online marketplaces, card shows, and informal buyer networks,&quot; he told AFP.<div> </div><div>&#x27;Big target&#x27; </div>The New York robbery, which police are yet to solve, was not an isolated incident.Thieves in California made off this month with about $180,000 worth of Pokemon trading cards after drilling through a wall to access a store.&quot;We got a big target on our back in this trading card, collectible world now,&quot; owner Duy Pham told CBS News after the burglary.It was the second time in less than a year that his shop was robbed.Similar thefts have also been reported in Japan, Britain, Canada and Australia.&quot;In some cases, incidents appear opportunistic, smash-and-grab, while others look more targeted — suggesting prior knowledge of store layouts, closing routines, or where higher-value inventory is kept,&quot; Jarman said.He noted that many shops operate on thin margins, so boosting security measures can be a financial burden.<div> </div><div>&#x27;Not fun anymore&#x27; </div>Ranging from Pikachu the mouse to Jigglypuff the balloon, there are now more than 1,000 different Pokemon characters, with new &quot;generations&quot; released every few years.Collecting Pokemon cards has become a form of investment beyond collecting, trading or playing.One website, Collectr, offers trading card portfolio management and valuation tools for users looking to track their assets.Factors determining value include Pokemon cards&#x27; rareness, the character and the artist, who is indicated on the card.But for some, the surge in prices has yanked the joy from what was a casual hobby.Grace Klich, a US-based Pokemon influencer, told AFP she had pulled back from collecting after becoming &quot;fatigued.&quot;&quot;When it gets to the point where local card stores are being broken into and people are getting a gun shoved in their face over cards, it is not all fun and cute anymore,&quot; she said.&quot;It was never about the value of items, or gaining respect, it was because I had a genuine love for such a wonderful franchise,&quot; she said.

What began as a quiet meetup of Pokemon enthusiasts at a US store ended with an armed robbery in which masked men held the group at gunpoint to steal more than $100,000 in trading cards.

What began as a quiet meetup of Pokemon enthusiasts at a US store ended with an armed robbery in which masked men held the group at gunpoint to steal more than $100,000 in trading cards.

Thieves target high-value Pokemon cards as franchise turns 30

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Thieves target high-value Pokemon cards as franchise turns 30

Agence France-Presse

Published February 27, 2026 12:49 PM PHT

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