In the latest shocking twist from Japan’s Pokémon card scene, a rival store owner has been arrested in connection to a high-stakes robbery at a local card shop. The incident took place on June 16 at around 3:30 a.m. at Card Shop Masters in Gifu Prefecture, where two men in their 30s broke in, allegedly threatened the owners with a knife, and made off with rare Pokémon cards and cash worth a total of 13,700,000 yen (roughly $92,000).
This robbery isn’t just your typical heist, however – the third person arrested in the ongoing investigation is reportedly the manager of a competing trading card shop.
According to reports from Japanese outlets Sanspo and Automaton, the two initial suspects were arrested for their role in the break-in, but it wasn’t until July 9 that a third suspect, the rival shop’s manager, was taken into custody for his suspected involvement. Despite police efforts, he has yet to confess to or deny his role in the robbery.
The victim shop has been vocal about the case, even posting a message on their X account urging others involved to turn themselves in. The statement reads: ‘There’s no use thinking you won’t get caught. We will definitely catch everyone.’ This call for justice has gained widespread attention, with the post drawing over 1 million views, leaving many in disbelief that such a crime could happen within the same industry.
Sadly, this isn’t the first time a Pokémon card shop has fallen victim to robbery. Back in September of the previous year, two men broke into a shop in Osaka and made off with over 100 cards worth around $67,000, as well as additional cash. The rise in such criminal activity has even reached other countries, with reports of similar thefts in Australia and the United States. In fact, just last week, a store in Massachusetts was hit for over $100,000 worth of Pokémon cards. The obsession with rare cards seems to have sparked a dangerous trend, with more thieves targeting stores in search of high-value items that can be easily sold off.
This incident has further solidified the reputation of rare Pokémon cards as not only a collector’s dream but also a prime target for crime. As prices soar and demand rises, these cards are becoming as valuable as gold – and unfortunately, just as enticing to criminals.