About $100,000 worth of Pokémon cards were stolen during an armed robbery at The Poke Court in Manhattan. Security images show a hooded man pointing what appears to be a pistol while others removed merchandise, cash and a phone. Owner Courtney Chin said all customers and staff were safe and shared footage of smashed display cases; no arrests have been made. The theft echoes a separate $300,000 Pokémon-card robbery in California earlier this month.
Armed Robbery at Manhattan Shop Nets About $100,000 in Stolen Pokémon Cards
A valuable card of Pokemon character Pikachu was among those stolen in the armed heist in Manhattan (I-Hwa CHENG)(I-Hwa CHENG/AFP/AFP)
Several high-value Pokémon cards — roughly $100,000 worth — were stolen in a gunpoint robbery at The Poke Court in Manhattan, New York, police said. Security images shared by the store show a hooded man dressed in black pointing what appears to be a pistol at a customer while other individuals removed merchandise.
What Happened
New York police said they were alerted late Wednesday after three men entered The Poke Court, displayed a firearm and threatened people inside. The suspects reportedly took multiple items of merchandise, cash and a phone. No arrests have been made.
Store Response and Evidence
Owner Courtney Chin posted a video on Instagram confirming that customers and staff were unharmed; she stood in front of display cases that had been smashed during the incident. The store published a list of several cards reported stolen — each kept in protective plastic cases called "slabs" that verify authenticity and condition.
Valuable Cards and Wider Context
U.S. media reports said some individual cards taken in the robbery can be worth as much as $5,500. Pokémon cards attract both children and adult collectors; billions have been printed while rare examples have sold for millions. Earlier this month, about $300,000 worth of Pokémon cards were stolen in a separate armed robbery in California.
The Pokémon franchise has grown far beyond its games: characters and imagery appear in films, animated series and a wide range of merchandise. According to License Global, the brand generated $12 billion in licensing revenue in 2024 — surpassing major toy makers.
No arrests have been announced and the investigation remains active. The shop has asked the community to stay alert and shared photos of the suspects and damage on social media as it works to recover the stolen items.
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