In the United Kingdom there is a marked increase of robberies on shops selling Pokémon cards. According to recent reports, card shops are increasingly targeted because of their high value and often poorly secured stores.
The incidents are no coincidence; The huge hype around Pokémon TCG plays a major role.
Value and risk increase simultaneously
In recent years, the value of Pokémon cards has increased significantly. In particular, sealed products and rare cards sometimes represent significant amounts.
This is interesting for criminals by:
- high value per product
- compact and easy to carry
- quickly by selling through online marketplaces
In several raids in the United Kingdom, collections were taken with a value that could reach tens of thousands of euros.
Not just a problem in the UK
Although most recent reports come from the UK, there are signs that shops in the Netherlands and Belgium are also more likely to face theft, attempted burglary or suspicious situations.
These incidents are less frequent, but are discussed within the community and among shopkeepers.
Security is lagging behind value
An important difference with, for example, jewelry stores is that many card shops are not designed for this type of risk derivatives. In many shops products are still open and visible in showcases or shelves, with minimal security. At the same time, the value of Pokémon cards has risen sharply in recent years. This creates an ever larger gap between what is in the store and how well it is protected.
Overstretched market with new challenges
The developments show that the Pokémon TCG market has entered a new phase. What once began as a hobby product has become a serious market with associated risk derivatives.
For shops this means more investment in security and more critical consideration of how stock is presented. Collectors should be more aware of the storage and value of collections.
