Florida man arrested for stealing $30k in Pokemon cards tackled by MMA coaches

According to authorities, a man in Florida attempted to steal $30,000 worth of Pokemon cards from a store, but his plan was foiled by a pair of MMA coaches who intervened.

On May 6, a 33-year-old man entered Pro Play Games in Miami and requested to view a binder containing valuable Pokemon cards. He then attempted to flee the store with the binder, laughing as he did so.

According to AnaMilena Machado, the store’s general manager, when she instructed him to “drop the stuff,”he looked back and laughed as he walked away. This moment left her feeling helpless as she watched all of their hard work, worth $30-40 thousand dollars, being taken away.

The binder was estimated to hold 3,000 cards and was worth more than $30,000. As a result, the store owner and onlookers joined forces in an effort to prevent the suspected theft.

According to authorities, Jasiel Manfarrol, the suspect, brandished a pair of pliers and began making “stabbing motions”towards one of the individuals attempting to intervene. He then reportedly threatened in Spanish, “I am going to stab you.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba_owBTJPs8

Group tackles man accused of stealing $30K worth of Pokémon cards in Miami-Dade (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba_owBTJPs8)

Upon escaping from the group attempting to prevent the possible theft, a pair of MMA coaches from a nearby gym intervened in the situation.

The takedown was captured on social media, showing a shirtless martial arts coach and several others holding the suspect down.

According to martial arts coach Dominic Galiana, we were able to successfully subdue the individual by using our ju jitsu techniques after my friend quickly exited the car and intercepted him.

Shortly after, Manfarrol was apprehended and accused of committing grand theft and aggravated assault.

It is not uncommon for individuals to supposedly attempt to steal a valuable collection of Pokemon cards, and this will probably continue to occur in the future.

In January, surveillance footage captured the moment when burglars entered a store and stole 35,000 worth of Pokemon cards.

In 2022, a notorious theft occurred when a collection of Pokemon cards valued at $500,000 was taken from the waterfront home of a 62-year-old in a large-scale heist.