Pokémon has been one of the world’s most massive Japanese media franchises since its rise to fame back in the late 1990s. Pokémon is a game, TV show, and popular card trading game about human trainers who catch, train, and battle their Pokémon against other trainers’ Pokémon. The game’s popularity is yet to die down, but this popularity has also become dangerous over the years.
With fans fiending for cards worth hundreds– if not thousands of dollars, Pokemon cards are not only just fun trading cards, but also valuable merchandise worth more than the eye can see. On Jan. 4th, 2026, at around 10 p.m, an armed robbery occurred in the streets of Sawtelle, a quiet neighborhood in LA.
The victim of the robbery was walking out of a trading card shop on Olympic Boulevard in Sawtelle. As he left the shop, the victim was carrying a substantial amount of rare Pokémon cards in his briefcase valued at over $300,000. According to Fox News, a newscast organization in LA, the suspect had most likely been watching the victim and observing from afar before attacking.
The suspect, armed with a handgun, threatened the man, ordering him to relinquish his rare collection to him before leaving the scene in a nearby car. While the victim was left uninjured, the suspect has not been caught or named.
Ever since the incident, the LAPD has been advising collectors to be wary about their collections and to remain vigilant in case of other potential robberies. Officials are now labeling the situation as comical, while others describe the urgency and direness of the situation.
Kayla Thomas, a junior who is one of the most passionate people at Los Osos High School when it comes to Pokémon, spoke about the impact of Pokémon on modern-day culture. Thomas said, “Positively, I believe its in a good investment. Pokémon can be used for exercise, too, since it makes you walk in order to hatch and find eggs. This makes people feel more inclined to exercise, which I think is a positive thing.”
Investigators claim that the collection was worth at least $200,000, meaning the total value could increase as the inventory is further investigated. NBC Los Angeles also explains that aside from this case, there has been a second Pokémon robbery over the same weekend.
The second case took place around 3 a.m. at a shopping center on Erringer Road. The owner of the store reported that multiple thieves broke into his shop, wielding a chainsaw as they smashed display cases. According to the authorities, the thieves were able to steal $50,000 worth of merchandise, walking away completely unscathed.
After both incidents took place over the same weekend, the LAPD is now claiming that it will look into both cases and determine whether they are connected or not. Both of these incidents display the theme of how something as tiny as a hobby can transform into something as monstrous as obsession or addiction.
An anonymous sophomore student spoke out about the situation regarding both robberies. They said, “A pointless way to steal money. I mean, resorting to Pokémon cards is genuinely one of the more pathetic things a thief can commit. Yes, Pokémon is extremely popular, but a robbery as huge as this has never been broadcast on the news like this before.”
The obsession over card trading games has become so exponential over time that some people have begun to go mad. Knowing that some cards are worth at least five months of rent, individuals have begun to steal these expensive cards and hoard them for their own desires.
No matter how much time has passed, Pokémon continues to be one of the most successful franchises in the world, with the mere concept of it being passed down from generation to generation. This extremely popular game and show has grown from being a niche video game to an extremely popular trading card game.
The impact of Pokémon has become so profound over the past few years. While some choose to entertain themselves with the media, some extremists find a method to steal and hoard the wealth.