A Pokemon Card Heist With A Chainsaw Ended Exactly How You'd Expect, Allegedly

A man in Florida was arrested for burglary and grand theft after surveillance footage allegedly showed him using a battery-powered chainsaw to enter a collectible shop. An earlier attempt to break the shop window with a rock failed, and the store owner contacted authorities the next morning. Police found blood at the scene and captured the getaway vehicle’s license plate registration. The suspect, Clayton Warren, was charged after the store owner estimated about $12,000 in Pokemon cards were stolen. Similar break-ins at collectible stores have been reported, including thefts exceeding $300,000, armed attacks on a newly opened Pokemon store, and losses of $100,000 in cards and other collectibles. Reports also claim organized groups have used Pokemon cards for money laundering, while scalper problems make legitimate purchasing difficult.

"In Florida, one man has been charged and arrested for burglary and grand theft after surveillance footage showed a figure allegedly using a battery-powered chainsaw to gain entry to the shop after an unsuccessful attempt to smash the shop window in with a rock (via KSL). The store owner contacted authorities the following morning after discovering the burglary, with the thief leaving behind plenty of evidence. Police found blood at the scene of the crime, and cameras captured the license plate registration of the getaway vehicle."

"Shortly afterward, police arrested one Clayton Warren and charged him. The store owner estimated that $12,000 in Pokemon cards were stolen. Tales like this are becoming increasingly common, as there are numerous reports of break-ins at collectible stores. Over $300,000 worth of rare cards-including valuable sports cards-were stolen in two separate incidents, armed gunmen hit a newly opened Pokemon store, and thieves made off with $100,000 in Pokemon cards and other collectibles late last year."

"There have even been reports that the Japanese mob was using Pokemon cards to launder money. This is just the tip of the Avalugg, and even purchasing Pokemon trading cards legitimately has turned into a circus, thanks to Pokemon: TCG's ongoing scalper problem."

Read at GameSpot