Massachusetts hit by Pokémon heist: Rare cards worth over $100K stolen

In a blink of an eye, more than $100,000 worth of rare Pokémon trading cards vanished from a specialty shop in New Bedford, Massachusetts, leaving the owners stunned. The theft happened around 2.30am last Tuesday when a masked intruder used a hammer to break into 1st Edition Collectibles. 

According to a New York Post article, the co-owner William Gilmour knew exactly where the burglar was heading: straight for a display case holding some of the shop’s crown jewels.

“They were in and out of our store within 30 seconds,” Gilmour told The New York Times. “It was like they knew the layout.”

Some of the precious items that were stolen during the theft were a BGS 8.5 First Edition Shadowless Charizard, arguably the Beyoncé of Pokémon cards, and a BGS 7.5 First Edition Shadowless Blastoise, the water-wielding turtle. Also, burglars took several vintage sealed booster boxes, including a Pokémon Base Set Unlimited Green Wing Booster Box, a rare find from 1999-2000 containing 36 packs of nostalgia.

In total, the thief ran off with five rare Pokémon cards and vintage collectibles valued between $100,000 and $113,000, according to the store’s owner. The shop, run by a trio of passionate collectors, sits in downtown New Bedford, about 60 miles south of Boston. Co-owner Felipe Andre told NBC Boston the incident was deeply personal and he was grieving about it.

“We’re literally just three guys. This is our passion. This is what we’ve loved since we were kids,” Andre said, adding that despite the loss, they planned to reopen Tuesday.

Law enforcement is currently investigating the theft. As of Monday, there have been no arrests made. The New Bedford Police Department hasn’t issued an official comment, media reports said.

The Pokémon franchise, which exploded in the late ‘90s with its Japanese video game roots, has since evolved into a multibillion-dollar empire spanning trading cards, animated series, movies, and merchandise. Its most iconic Pokémon, Pikachu, remains a global sensation with electrifying charm, as collectors continue to shell out big bucks for rare finds. Thefts like this one highlight just how high the stakes have gotten in the Pokémon universe.