Executive Summary
- Armed robbers stole $500,000 in Pokémon cards from employees at a Sawtelle card shop.
- A separate burglary in Simi Valley involved thieves using a chainsaw to steal $50,000 in merchandise.
- LAPD investigators are examining potential connections between the two crimes committed within 24 hours.
Authorities in Southern California are investigating two high-value thefts targeting trading card businesses within a 24-hour period, including an armed robbery in Los Angeles and a burglary involving a chainsaw in Simi Valley, which collectively resulted in losses exceeding $550,000.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the most recent incident occurred in the Sawtelle neighborhood as employees of RWT Collective were departing the business for the night. Investigators stated that two men approached the staff members; one of the suspects was brandishing a handgun. The perpetrators reportedly seized a case containing Pokémon cards valued at approximately $500,000 from the trunk of an employee’s vehicle before fleeing the scene.
In a separate incident reported over the weekend, officers from the Simi Valley Police Department responded to an alarm at Simi Sportscards on Erringer Road around 3 a.m. The business owner reported to NBC4 that thieves gained entry to the shop by using a chainsaw to breach the premises. Once inside, the suspects smashed display cases and removed at least $50,000 worth of collectible cards.
Law enforcement officials are currently analyzing evidence to determine if the two crimes are coordinated efforts by the same group. The LAPD confirmed they are actively looking into whether these thefts are connected, citing the proximity in time and the specific nature of the stolen merchandise.
Investigative Outlook
The targeted nature of these crimes highlights a specific trend where high-value collectibles are treated as liquid assets by criminal enterprises. The escalation from property crime to armed confrontation, as seen in the Sawtelle incident, presents an elevated public safety concern for niche retailers in the region. Investigators are expected to focus on tracking the secondary market for the unique items stolen to identify potential fencing operations. At this stage of the inquiry, no specific suspects have been identified, and authorities continue to solicit information from the public regarding both incidents.
