A FedEx truck carrying nearly $1 million worth of Pokemon and other trading cards was stolen from a parking lot in Santa Ana, California, on October 13. The Santa Ana Police Department stated that the burglary resulted in the loss of hundreds of cards, with an estimated value of $963,000. The stolen items included sports cards and Pokemon cards, though the exact value of each category has not been determined.
The thieves reportedly broke into the FedEx truck, stole two full pallets of cards, and additionally targeted a third pallet. These cards belonged to collectors nationwide who had submitted them to the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) for authentication and grading.
Collectors, the parent company of PSA, confirmed the theft and stated it is working with law enforcement and the shipping carrier. The company has deactivated the certificates for the stolen cards and alerted its marketplace partners to watch for their appearance. PSA is arranging compensation for affected customers based on fair market value, acknowledging the significant impact on collectors who view the cards as more than just a financial asset.
FedEx acknowledged the incident and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. A spokesperson for the company told ABC News that the security of customer shipments is a top priority.
This incident is one of several recent high-value thefts involving Pokemon cards, which have seen a surge in popularity and value, sometimes leading to dangerous situations for collectors.