RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Three Triangle card shops have been broken into this month, reporting thousands of dollars worth of stolen Pokémon cards.
“They smashed our showcase so they knew where they were going,” said Joseph Lisa, co-owner of Crunch Time Sports Cards.
The location was broken into around 2:45 a.m. Thursday. Surveillance video captured the thief smashing the glass door, then going directly toward a glass case that held the cards. The person was inside the store for about 30 seconds, making off with $6,000 worth of cards.
They could have checked the cash register. Never touched it … Nintendo Switch games behind the counter … All they took was just Pokémon cards.
Josh Hanna, owner of Hidden Block Games in Raleigh
“You got to open the doors the next day, right? I have to restock inventory. I have to continue buying, have to continue operating as normal. But you do have to factor it in. A lot of it’s going to be more precautions,” said Lisa, who said he believes the thief had been in the store previously. The store is open, though a wooden board is now in place of the shattered glass.
One door is boarded up at Crunch Time Sports Cards in Raleigh after a thief smashed the glass.
Two days later, on Oct. 4, a person broke into Hidden Block Games in Raleigh.
“One of the York security guards was kind of driving around and was able to see the alarm went off. We were able to come down,” said Hidden Block Games co-owner Josh Hanna. “The Raleigh Police Department was already here. Someone had taken two rocks and just broke through the window, kind of like right behind our counter.”
Hanna said the thief was in and out quickly, ultimately swiping about $2,000 worth of Pokémon cards.
“They could have checked the cash register. Never touched it, never opened it. We have, like, all of our Nintendo Switch games behind the counter. Could have easily picked up the box and took it and left. IPads, computers, tons of stuff behind the counter. All they took was just Pokémon cards,” Hanna said.
On Thursday, a thief broke into New World Toys and Collectibles in Garner.
“They broke through the top of the door and then kicked into the bottom, and they went through,” said Kenny Cunningham, an employee.
Off-camera, the store’s owner told ABC11 that he believes the thief was in the store previously, allowing him to target a specific case. In total, about $3,000 worth of Pokémon cards were stolen.
The business has already implemented security upgrades in response to the break-in.
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All three business owners expressed their appreciation for support from customers in the aftermath of the break-ins.
“People bringing chocolates or moms coming in with their kids, you know, ‘I (heard) what happened. And we’re so sorry.’ That we appreciate it on a level above being disappointed on what happened,” said Lisa.
“Even people in the community who aren’t store owners have been like, ‘Hey, I’ve seen this maybe questionable lot pop up on Facebook. Is this the stuff you’re missing?’ So definitely strong support from other store owners and the community,” Hanna said.
Nationally, other stores have reported break-ins targeting Pokémon cards.
If you have any information about any of these break-ins, you’re encouraged to call Raleigh Police or the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.
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