Man Selling His $5,000 Pokémon Card Was Attacked, Had Card Stolen

Danica Davidson May 1, 2025

Unfortunately, crimes related to Pokémon continue to happen. In one recent case, a 38-year-old Australian man agreed to sell his PSA 9 Base Set holo Charizard, estimated at $8,000 in Australia, which would be a little over $5,000 in the United States.

The man, who is not named in the press, went to the arranged meeting place. But instead of having a nice transaction, the man was physically attacked and the card was confiscated.

A report from ABC Australia doesn’t say how the man is doing, but hopefully that in itself means nothing too bad happened. According to the police report, the seller was able to give police details, including the fact that the man who attacked him was allegedly the man who’d agreed to buy the coveted card.

Since then police put out a fuzzy photograph of the suspect’s vehicle, hoping to find the thief. The authorities got a little creative in their social media post, opening it with saying, “Turns out Team Rocket’s not the only one causing trouble…”

They further explained, “Detectives are investigating after a rare Pokémon card – valued at over $8000 – was stolen during a trade at Warilla last month.”

Then they go into more particulars, and also get in another joke, “We have released an image of a red 2023 Ford Mustang with grey stripes, seen nearby, and believe the driver may have info that could help us catch ’em all (or at least the one responsible).”

They get in one final joke while also sharing the number to call if you have any information: “If you’ve got info, don’t just sit there like a Snorlax – contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

This isn’t even the only Pokémon card crime like it recently in Australia. ABC Australia notes, “It is estimated smash-and-grab burglaries from about two dozen collectable card stores in Melbourne could have netted $1 million dollars worth of Pokémon cards.”

Source: Kotaku, ABC Australia, police report

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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.