Thieves Punch Through Drywall to Steal $20K in Pokémon Cards

Collectibles store in Anaheim, California targeted in under 10-minute heist

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Thieves broke into a collectibles store in Anaheim, California by cutting through the drywall from a neighboring business, stealing an estimated $20,000 worth of Pokémon trading cards in less than 10 minutes. The incident highlights the vulnerability of retail spaces using lightweight interior partitions that can be easily breached, leading to growing security concerns for stores with high-value, small-format inventory.

Why it matters

The break-in at Do-We Collectibles reflects a broader trend of theft targeting collectible retailers, driven by rising secondary-market prices for items like Pokémon cards. This case illustrates how lightweight commercial construction can create security risks, prompting stores to consider upgrades like reinforced walls, security doors, and alarm systems to better protect valuable merchandise.

The details

Surveillance footage shows three suspects smashing glass display cases around 3 a.m. and rapidly removing trading cards before fleeing. The thieves first entered the neighboring unit before cutting a large opening through the shared drywall to access the collectibles store. Store owner Duy Pham said the entire theft took less than 10 minutes.

  • The break-in occurred around 3 a.m. on February 27, 2026.
  • In January 2026, thieves broke into a Simi Valley collectibles store, stealing an estimated $500,000 in inventory.

The players

Do-We Collectibles

A collectibles store located in Anaheim, California that was targeted in the break-in.

Duy Pham

The owner of Do-We Collectibles, who estimated the merchandise losses at roughly $20,000.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They took a lot of smaller, single cards, and it adds up quickly in value. All of our display cases were empty.”

— Duy Pham, Store Owner (Channel 7 News Los Angeles)

What’s next

Law enforcement continues investigating the break-in and searching for the three suspects involved.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing security risks for retailers with high-value, small-format inventory, particularly those using lightweight interior partitions that can be easily breached. It underscores the need for stores to consider upgrading physical security measures to better protect their merchandise.