Pokémon Bandits Tunnel Into LA Shop, Steal $200K in Cards

Thieves broke through a wall to access the collectible card shop in Anaheim, California.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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In a brazen burglary, thieves tunneled into a collectible shop in Anaheim, California and stole nearly $200,000 worth of Pokémon cards. The suspects broke through a wall to access the DOWE Collectibles shop, then used sledgehammers to smash display cases and fill up bags with the valuable cards.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the growing problem of theft targeting high-value collectible items, especially Pokémon cards which have seen a surge in popularity and value in recent years. The break-in also raises concerns about the security measures needed to protect small businesses from such targeted criminal activity.

The details

According to police, the suspects broke into an office next door to the collectible shop, then used a sledgehammer to smash through the drywall and tunnel into DOWE Collectibles. Surveillance footage showed the masked thieves entering the shop, breaking the display cases, and filling large bags with an estimated $180,000 worth of Pokémon cards. The owner, Duy Pham, said the burglars did not take any electronics or other items, indicating they were solely focused on stealing the valuable cards.

  • The break-in occurred in the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 21, 2026.

The players

DOWE Collectibles

A collectible shop in Anaheim, California that was targeted in the burglary.

Duy Pham

The owner of DOWE Collectibles, who was alerted to the break-in and rushed to the scene.

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What they’re saying

“I clicked on the footage and saw guys coming through the hole. My heart was pounding. I called 911 right away and rushed over here.”

— Duy Pham, Owner, DOWE Collectibles (KTLA)

What’s next

Police are following up on leads in the case and no arrests have been made yet.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the growing value and demand for Pokémon cards, which has made them a prime target for thieves. It also highlights the need for small businesses to have robust security measures in place to protect against such brazen burglaries targeting high-value collectibles.