Armed robbers steal $100,000 worth of merchandise from New York Pokemon store

Three unidentified men took the Pokemon trading card craze to new heights on January 14, when they robbed dozens of people at gunpoint of $100,000. The robbery occurred during a community event at Poke Court, a Pokemon trading card store in New York City, in the presence of more than 40 customers and employees. While no injuries were reported, the suspects reportedly made off with a large amount of inventory and cash before fleeing the scene.

Store employees and customers raise their hands to armed robbers | Screenshot from YouTube

Pokemon Trading Card Heist Details

The suspects reportedly locked the store’s customers inside while they systematically broke glass display cases to access high-value merchandise. Owner Courtney Chin Confirmed Approximately $100,000 worth of property was stolen, including certain collector cards individually valued at $5,500 and $3,500. During the robbery, the robbers also stole a 27-year-old woman’s personal property, including a mobile phone.

After the incident, the store shared surveillance footage that showed the suspect wearing a mask, gloves and a hooded sweatshirt while brandishing a weapon. Poke Court’s management released a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming they are currently reviewing their safety protocols.

Despite the huge financial loss, the store said their main focus remains the safety of customers and employees. “Everyone’s personal safety is paramount,” the store said in a statement. Facebook post. “We are grateful that everyone remained calm and the situation did not escalate further. We love Pokemon, but no card is worth losing a life.”

The New York Police Department has point out The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time.

Increase in collectible card thefts

The incident reflects a broader trend of high-value theft targeting the U.S. collectible card market. Last December, a similar robbery occurred at the Los Angeles Sports Card Store in Burbank, California: The perpetrators made off with more than $100,000 worth of Pokemon and sports cards in about two minutes.

In January, a customer in West Los Angeles was robbed of $300,000 worth of Pokemon cards during a robbery outside a store. These recurring incidents indicate that groups are increasingly targeting the trading card industry due to the merchandise’s high resale value and portability.

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Updated on January 19, 2026