Punch-Out Gaming in Forest Lake, Minn., was targeted in a quick smash-and-grab on July 25 when two masked burglars broke a storefront window and stole between $30,000 and $50,000 in Pokémon merchandise, mostly cards, in roughly 90 seconds. Surveillance shows the suspects heading straight for display cases and sealed products before fleeing in a gold minivan missing three hubcaps. The shop — which suffered a $250,000 burglary in 2022 — remains open after boarding the window and refilling displays. Collectors are advised to record certification numbers, photograph graded holders and retain invoices to help identify stolen items.
Masked Smash-and-Grab at Minnesota Game Store — $30K–$50K in Pokémon Merchandise Stolen in 90 Seconds
Image Credit: WCCO - CBS Minnesota/YouTube.
Punch-Out Gaming in Forest Lake, Minnesota, was hit by a quick smash-and-grab early on July 25 when two masked suspects broke the storefront window and scooped up high-value Pokémon merchandise in roughly 90 seconds.
Surveillance footage shows the pair breaking a window shortly before 4 a.m., tearing down a Pikachu graphic and heading straight for display cases and sealed products along a wall. Co-owner Mike Johnson said an alarm alerted him to the break-in; he estimated the burglars were inside for about a minute and a half before fleeing.
Punch-Out Gaming values the stolen inventory at between $30,000 and $50,000, most of which consisted of Pokémon cards and expensive sealed products. Johnson noted that collectible items can appreciate significantly on the secondary market — a product bought for about $100 could now fetch roughly $500 — making precise replacement difficult even when insurance pays out.
The suspects reportedly left in a gold-colored minivan missing three hubcaps. Police have not publicly identified the suspects or announced arrests.
History And Context
The store suffered a much larger burglary in February 2022, when thieves entered through a neighboring business, cut through a shared wall and stole about $250,000 in cards and collectibles. Punch-Out Gaming later expanded into the adjacent unit and upgraded security with more cameras, alarms and sensors. Two men were charged in that case; one received a one-year jail sentence, while charges against the other were dismissed after he received a federal prison sentence for an unrelated drug case.
The Forest Lake burglary follows a string of recent thefts targeting trading-card businesses in the Twin Cities area. About a month earlier, burglars stole an estimated $25,000 in high-value Pokémon cards from an arcade in Eagan. A Wisconsin card store also reported a burglary with losses estimated at $30,000 to $50,000; authorities have not publicly linked the incidents.
How Collectors And Retailers Can Protect Inventory
Collectors and shop owners are urged to record certification numbers, photograph graded card holders (front and back), keep invoices and maintain an itemized inventory. These records make it easier to identify stolen cards if they appear for sale online or at other shops.
Certification databases such as PSA's Certification Verification tool can display a card's year, set, subject, grade and certification number. PSA cautions that a valid certification number alone is not proof of authenticity because counterfeit holders can reproduce numbers; buyers should verify database details against the physical card and holder and purchase from reputable sellers.
Practical Tip: Keep off-site backups of invoices, photos of graded holders and certification numbers so you can quickly provide an itemized list to police, insurers and nearby retailers after a loss.
Punch-Out Gaming remained open after the incident; staff refilled emptied displays and boarded the broken window while replacement glass is ordered — expected to take about a week.
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