Liquid Assets: Why Criminals Are Targeting Them
- Pokémon is a globally recognised name,from games,to TV and trading cards - it has had a huge influence on the world since it was created and launched in...
- As the cultural phenomenon approaches its 30th birthday on 27 February - a spate of thefts has been reported recently across England, targeting gaming stores that sell the...
- The cards, related to the hugely popular Japanese animation franchise, have soared in value over recent years - with some being sold for thousands of pounds.
Pokémon is a globally recognised name,from games,to TV and trading cards – it has had a huge influence on the world since it was created and launched in 1996.
As the cultural phenomenon approaches its 30th birthday on 27 February – a spate of thefts has been reported recently across England, targeting gaming stores that sell the world-famous trading cards.
The cards, related to the hugely popular Japanese animation franchise, have soared in value over recent years – with some being sold for thousands of pounds.
But why have they become so desirable, and what causes some of the collectable items to, as one trader put it, be bought “like stocks”?
The UK county of Nottinghamshire has seen four high-profile crimes involving Pokémon cards in recent weeks.
On 29 December,
Guinness World Book of RecordsAshley 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
“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 built over the years,” wosley said.
“They are trying to make a rapid buck and unluckily, I think some of those influences have been large, especially when you have the likes of Logan Paul who are saying, ‘look how much money these cards are worth’.”
Wosley compared the buying and selling of Pokémon in this manner to the trading of limited edition trainers.
“Pokémon’s almost become a little bit like that,” Wosley said.
Playground trading
Another element Hudson attributed to their rise in desirability were the cards becoming a “vintage” product to many.
“To us that’s strange because I’m a ’90s kid, and to be told something like that is now vintage is bizarre,” he said.
“So, it became vintage and then everybody started getting interested and there was just a massive revival.”
Lee fowler is the director of Phantom cards UK – wich has been running pop-up stores over the last three years, but is now opening a store in nearby Chilwell in Nottinghamshire.
He said when he first started selling cards,he could get hold of the collectable items without a problem,but now found it more tough.
“It gets hard for me to get packets now,” he added.
Fowler listed nostalgia as a key reason why demand for cards had risen and said he got back into the card franchise after finding his old Pokémon collection in an old Quality Street tin at his parents’ house.
He believes people are nostalgic for the cards as it brought back memories of trading them in the playground as a kid.
“Most of us were mad for Pokémon back in the day and it just brings back all the memories,” he said.
Getty imagesBut buisness owners like Hudson believe the cards remain a “liquid asset”, which mean they can easily be turned into cash at full-market price.
“So if someone steals a Pokémon card they can resell it,” he said. “That’s where this whole problem is ignited from.
“This, and people are buying Pokémon cards as if they are stocks.”
According to a report published by Research and Markets, the industry was valued at $7.8bn (£5.8bn) last year, and was forecast to be worth $11.8bn (£8.9bn) in 2030.
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George’s, University of London, told the BBC amid a “retail crime epidemic”, criminals were operating with an ”increased precision focus” on items they can steal in bulk “relatively easily” and sell on for profit.
“I think that’s where we’re seeing this step change and that emphasis on items that are very desirable, collectable and also increasing in price,” Taylor said.
City St George’s, University of London## Pokémon Card Theft Surge Reported in UK Collectibles Stores
Recent reports indicate a rise in thefts targeting Pokémon card collections from businesses across the United Kingdom. The incidents highlight a growing concern within the collectibles community.
### Recent Incidents & Affected Businesses
Danny Fullbrook/BBCAccording to a report by the BBC, collectible card stores are experiencing an increase in break-ins. Specifically, Collector’s Cardhouse in Hertfordshire was recently targeted. The BBC report details that the store had a significant quantity of Pokémon cards stolen.
In Nottinghamshire,The Dice Cup, another collectibles store, has also been repeatedly targeted by thieves, with the most recent break-in occurring approximately a year ago.
### Community Impact
Store owners have expressed dismay at the thefts, emphasizing the positive nature of the hobby. Wosley, owner of The Dice Cup, stated to the BBC that such incidents are “really disheartening” given the “delightful” and “wholesome” nature of the Pokémon card collecting community.
### Current Status (as of 2026/01/24 02:33:31)
As of January 24, 2026, there are no further confirmed reports of Pokémon card thefts beyond those detailed in the BBC article published on January 23, 2026. Police investigations are ongoing, according to the report. The value of Pokémon cards has considerably increased in recent years, making them an attractive target for thieves.The market value of rare cards, such as the Charizard mentioned in the BBC report, can reach substantial sums.