VIDEO: Pokémon cards stolen from Nanaimo hobby shop

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High-value theft

VIDEO: Pokémon cards stolen from Nanaimo hobby shop

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“Their first look was the cards in my display cases, which were not there, and they went for the next best thing, and it was the sealed product. This individual has definitely visited my store, they knew exactly where go, where to look,” Mah told NanaimoNewsNOW in his shop.

Six sealed Pokémon box sets were stolen, representing the majority of the theft, involving well over $5,000 in losses, Mah estimated.

He called 911 while en route to the store, stating Nanaimo RCMP arrived on scene one minute after he showed up and are advancing the investigation.

“They were bang-on, it was a very good response,” Mah said.

To Mah’s relief, his business was not ransacked during a brief Thursday morning break-in and theft. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The stolen sealed sets, with the most lucrative being an Evolving Skies collection, can only be maximized value-wise by remaining unopened, Mah noted.

Given the landscape of the emerging hobby card-collecting market, Mah said break-ins like this are a risk facing the industry.

Sports Card Alley, located at Bowen Centre lost roughly $25,000 during a break-in and theft, eventually leading to an arrest.

“I know what I’m getting myself into. I’ve emotionally prepared myself to have this happen. It could have been worse, I’ve seen other stores when this happens, they get completely vandalized, everything getting destroyed.”

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