Key Highlights
- CCTV footage showed two people smashing their way into the shop and stealing thousands of Pokémon and other collectable trading cards, before fleeing and dropping some of the items as they left. Police said they were pursuing several lines of inquiry in relation to the Nottinghamshire break-ins. Ch Insp Paul Hennessy said: "We have identified a number of potential suspects - and our inquiries remain ongoing."The instances are clearly very similar in nature, and at this time, although we are not linking them, we are keeping an open mind."A day later, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed inquiries were under way after thieves targeted The Dice Jail in Southwell on 25 December, and Sanctuary Gaming Centre & Coffee Shop in Sutton-in-Ashfield on 26 December. Cash and cards from Pokémon, Star Wars, Spider-Man and Warhammer were among the items stolen.
- Thefts related to the franchise have not been confined to Nottinghamshire, though, with Pokémon cards targeted from stores and private collections around the country - and across the globe. In May, a man was arrested by Greater Manchester Police after officers discovered a stolen haul of rare Pokémon cards worth an estimated £250,000. And in November 2024, Sussex Police said it returned a stolen rare Pokémon card worth up to £30,000 after it was listed for sale on Facebook. Guinness World Book of RecordsLogan Paul bought a Pikachu Illustrator card in a sale worth £3,862,424Ashley Hudson, director of antique shop Silver Fox - based in Nottingham - has a Pokémon cards section called Zone 21.
- He believes a lot of recent interest in the cards stems from YouTuber Logan Paul wearing a Pikachu illustrator card - which is regarded as the rarest Pokémon card - around his neck for WrestleMania, a major wrestling event in April 2022.
- "That ignited the Pokémon market overnight," Hudson said. He added there was a "celebrity culture" around the cards with Jake Paul, Logan Paul's brother, and others opening packets of them on TikTok, which he said caused an "instant blow-up" in demand. The Pikachu illustrator card worn by Logan Paul is now under the hammer until 16 February, with bids worth more than $5m (£3.7m) having been placed. But Amy Wosley, manager of Dice Cup - a board game cafe based in Nottingham - was less sure interest from these high-profile internet figures had a "large impact" on prices. However, she felt it brought their fans into the world of Pokémon - with mixed consequences. Amy WosleyAmy Wosley said some people were buying Pokémon cards to sell them on for money"They don't like the hobby.
- They're not into the hobby for the passion, for the Pokémon and for the nostalgia that we've bui.
