Two brothers, Keith and Shane Johnson, have pleaded guilty to stealing over £71,000 worth of Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) stock from several collectible stores in Warrington, Cheshire, England. The thefts occurred across multiple establishments, with one notable break-in at Celestial Collectables on the evening of April 8, 2026.
Cheshire Police reported that investigators discovered a crowbar at the ransacked Celestial Collectables. The stolen items primarily consisted of Pokémon cards valued at £62,000, with an additional £3,000 in damages to the shop itself. Authorities utilized CCTV footage to track a van with cloned license plates, which had traveled from Birmingham to Warrington on the day of the burglary.
Further investigation connected the brothers to other incidents where damages exceeded £9,000. Police observed a Nissan X-Trail, used by the brothers to leave a previous crime scene, parked outside Keith Johnson's residence. A subsequent search of the property revealed keys to both the van used in the Warrington burglary and the Nissan X-Trail, along with stolen property from Celestial Collectables and clothing worn during the initial break-in.
As a result of the admitted offenses, Keith Johnson received a 29-month prison sentence. Shane Johnson, who is considered an accomplice, is scheduled for sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court on July 31. Cheshire Police humorously referenced the popular Pokémon franchise in their report, stating "gotta catch 'em all!"
The incident highlights the burgeoning value of Pokémon TCG cards, which have become attractive targets for theft and scalping. While the demand for new sets, including those celebrating the franchise's 30th anniversary, drives collector excitement, it also fuels illicit activities in the market.