Hundreds of PSA-graded trading cards valued at over $100,000 were reportedly stolen from a FedEx truck in Southern California on October 17. The incident has left collectors distressed as the full extent of the damage is still being calculated.
One affected collector, known online as SKY-B, posted on Twitter/X that PSA had notified him of the burglary via email. According to SKY-B, his collection of 104 cards, estimated to be worth more than $100,000, was taken from the truck after it left its location. PSA's email confirmed the theft and outlined steps taken to address the situation, including deactivating certificates for the affected items, informing commerce partners, and cooperating with FedEx and law enforcement.
PSA stated that it would compensate SKY-B for the stolen items based on fair market value, up to the Maximum Insured Value he had selected for each card. SKY-B expressed concern that the compensation might be insufficient, as some of his cards may have exceeded the insured value. He noted in a YouTube video that the stolen order took over two years to assemble and included many irreplaceable cards. The grading fees alone amounted to $8,000, with a potential insured value reaching $156,000 per card.
SKY-B's experience appears to be part of a larger theft. Content creator and fellow collector Boston Card Hunter reported being told by a major PSA dealer that customers might have lost an estimated $500,000 in declared value. Boston Card Hunter has compiled a list of 383 serialized cards allegedly stolen from the same FedEx truck, featuring items from various trading card games, anime series, and sports figures, including a 1995 Upper Deck 23K Gold Michael Jordan card and a 2024 One Piece Nami card.
Speculation among dealers and collectors suggests that FedEx trucks may now be targets for thieves, potentially leading to a shift towards private shipping and handling arrangements for valuable items. Reports on Reddit also indicate that other collectors lost items, including a PSA 9 Smaug the Magnificent card from Magic: The Gathering.
In a statement, PSA confirmed it is aware of the theft involving a third-party shipping vehicle carrying its graded items. The company reiterated its cooperation with law enforcement and the carrier, the deactivation of certificates for stolen items, and its commitment to compensating affected customers based on fair market value. PSA acknowledged the significant impact on collectors, stating, "We understand the impact this has on collectors involved, many of whom see these cards as far more than a financial asset. Our team is focused on supporting them."