Masked thieves stole about $15,000 in Pokémon cards from The Card Lab in Brentwood, California, in a raid captured on surveillance that lasted under 40 seconds. The suspects, dressed in black, fled in a Nissan Altima and remain at large; the store's manager was upstairs and unharmed. The shop closed briefly to install extra security, and police noted similar rapid raids at card stores nationwide, including a $40,000–$50,000 theft in Rochelle Park, New Jersey.
Masked Thieves Make Off With $15,000 in Pokémon Cards From Brentwood Shop In Under 40 Seconds
Photo Credit: The Pokemon Company
Masked thieves broke into The Card Lab in Brentwood, California, and stole approximately $15,000 in Pokémon trading cards in a frantic raid that lasted less than 40 seconds, police said. Surveillance footage shows the suspects, dressed in black, jumping over display cases and dumping packs and boxes into large plastic garbage bags before fleeing the scene in a Nissan Altima.
The incident occurred on Saturday night. Owner Ronnie Hackett, who opened The Card Lab two months earlier, said his manager was on an upper level and was unharmed. Hackett told reporters that his immediate concern was the safety of his employee and then the extent of the loss.
My first thought was 'I hope that my employee was OK,' and I was relieved to see that she was. And then I also just kind of wanted to see what the damage was, what damage was done.
I'm relieved that she was not downstairs because that could have been way worse. But she was upstairs doing our end of the day protocol.
The shop temporarily closed to add extra security measures after the theft. Investigators said the suspects appear to have exploited access and timing during that window.
Similar Robberies Across the U.S.
Authorities warned that comparable break-ins targeting collectible card shops have been reported across the country. Last week, masked thieves smashed the glass door of Big Pack Hobby Shop in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, and stole an estimated $40,000 to $50,000 in cards and merchandise in an incident that also unfolded in minutes and was caught on camera.
Police continue to investigate both robberies and are asking anyone with information or relevant surveillance footage to contact local law enforcement. Reporting on the incidents referenced ABC News and other outlets.
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