Summary
- Thieves recently stole $315,000 worth of Pokemon cards from Ace Grading.
- The company said it has started to reach out to customers whose cards were stolen to give them details on how to claim compensation.
- Ace Grading said it’s implementing additional security measures to prevent similar events in the future.
Thieves have stolen over $315,000 worth of Pokemon TCG and other trading cards from card grading business Ace Grading. Collectibles, especially Pokemon cards, have grown increasingly valuable, and graded versions are worth even more than most. It hasn’t taken criminals long to catch onto this, and now an official rating company and its customers have suffered due to the actions of a few.
Card-related crime has seemingly ticked up in recent years as Pokemon and other collectibles have surged back into mainstream popularity. In July, criminals stole over $1 million worth of Pokemon cards from a warehouse, and individual collectors have reported being victims of theft, too. Now even the businesses evaluating what these items are worth are becoming targets.
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Ace Grading issued an official statement and accompanying YouTube video stating it was the “target of a professional theft” on December 13th, 2024. Local police confirmed the robbery and added that the stolen merchandise was worth an estimated £250,000, or just over $315,000. Because Ace is a grading business, most, if not all, the cards do not belong to them but are the property of customers who’ve sent them in to see what they’re worth. This unique stance is also likely what made the company an ideal target for thieves, as well-graded cards fetch much higher prices. A Japanese Dark Charizard is worth over $1,090 for a PSA rating of 10, while an ungraded or low-quality version of the same card is worth just a third of that amount.
Ace Grading Will Reimburse Affected Customers for Stolen Cards
The company said it has started to reach out to customers whose cards were stolen to give them details on how to claim compensation. According to the official statement, it has already determined how much each card was worth based on fair market value, and it’ll use these valuations when reimbursing customers. Police have arrested Pokemon card thieves in the past, so hopefully, law enforcement will be able to track down these criminals, too. In the meantime, Ace Grading said it’s implementing additional security measures to prevent similar events in the future.
As cards keep climbing in value, it’s easy to see why they’re grabbing criminals’ attention. When a single pull can go for thousands of dollars, people are going to try and obtain that kind of asset any way they can. There are even reports of employees stealing Pokemon cards from the factory before they can ever reach stores. It’s a growing problem, and for now, the best advice for owners and handlers of rare cards is to take every precaution available to keep these valuables safe.
Pokemon TCG
Pokemon TCG (Trading Card Game) is a collectible and strategy based card game based on Nintendo’s Pokemon franchise. Two players face off against one another, battling one Pokemon at a time and attempting to knock them out to claim one of six prize cards. The cards have also become highly collectible with some in particular selling for thousands of dollars.
- Original Release Date
- October 20, 1996