Pokemon card thefts are hitting collectors across Southern California

"Thieves have tried to break into Taylor Minatogawa's business five times in the last two months, distressing him so much he's spent at least a dozen nights inside his shop keeping guard. A hooded suspect with a baseball bat surprised one of his employees at the door of the Gardena shop during one unsuccessful attempt. In another, thieves cut their way in through the roof, making off with thousands of dollars' worth of loot."

"For all that effort, one might think the store deals in diamonds, designer brands or expensive tech. But Minatogawa doesn't work with any of those - he deals in Pikachus, Charizards and Jigglypuffs, to name a few. Over the last six months, trading card shop owners and serious Pokemon card collectors across Southern California have been targeted in brazen, sophisticated and sometimes violent thefts, with losses reaching into the six figures in a single heist."

Thieves attempted to break into Taylor Minatogawa's Gardena trading card shop five times in two months, prompting him to spend at least a dozen nights sleeping inside the store. Intruders have used baseball bats, pepper spray, guns, roof entry, tunneling through walls and smashing display cases to steal valuable Pokemon cards. Burglars often bypass cash registers and seize high-value cards within minutes. Losses in single heists have reached six figures. Police in multiple Southern California cities are investigating and comparing cases, while shop owners report being followed and uncertain whether the same crews or different groups are responsible.

Read at Los Angeles Times