Game Store Staff Prevents $40K Heist by Pokemon Card Thieves with Constant Conversation

Pokemon card burglars faced arrest after the staff at a local game store successfully delayed their getaway until law enforcement could intervene.

Throughout the years, there have been numerous instances of criminals targeting trading card shops to steal valuable Pokemon cards. While many of these stories have circulated quickly through media outlets and conversations, not all perpetrators have been apprehended.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the outcome in the case of Kris Fekete’s Enter The Battlefield gaming store, thanks to the quick thinking of another shop’s team.

According to CTV News, on September 18, 2024, approximately 300 trading cards were stolen from Enter The Battlefield. Security footage revealed one suspect who forcefully entered the store by smashing and kicking the front door.

Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu looking shocked in the Pokemon Sun & Moon anime — The Pokemon Company

Just picture the thieves’ surprise when law enforcement suddenly showed up!

The thief went behind the counter and piled trading cards valued at about $150,000 into his backpack. “When we arrived, we discovered that the showcases for both ‘Magic: The Gathering’ and ‘Pokémon’ singles had been thoroughly looted,” Fekete remarked.

In a remarkable twist, just a few weeks later, the shop owner received word that the thieves had been apprehended.

The situation unfolded on October 1, 2024, when two men visited the OMG Games store in Barrie and attempted to trade in a substantial collection of cards. A vigilant employee swiftly recognized that these cards matched those reported stolen, as shared by the store owner Rick Bates.

Unbeknownst to the suspects, the store had discreetly alerted Fekete and the York Regional Police about the unfolding situation. As officers made their way to the scene, Fekete instructed Bates to keep the suspects engaged, which he and another staff member did effectively.

Bates held a conversation discussing worries about counterfeit cards, while his colleague engaged them in casual chatter to distract them. They managed to keep the men occupied for roughly 30 to 40 minutes until the Barrie police arrived and took the two suspects into custody.

In the aftermath, authorities were able to recover about 25 percent of the stolen cards, estimated to be worth between $30,000 and $40,000. Both suspects were subsequently charged with possessing property obtained through criminal activity exceeding $5,000.

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