Armed With Guns And Hammers, Thieves Steal $116K In Pokemon Cards

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Okay, so this is crazy! I just heard that some guys – three of them, wearing masks – actually robbed a brand new Pokemon store! Apparently, they didn’t mess around, grabbing over $100,000 worth of stuff. We’re talking rare Pokemon cards, a grand in cash, and even someone’s phone. The employees and police told the news, and it’s just a really messed up situation for all the Pokemon fans out there.

The Poke Court, a store specializing in Pokémon collectibles and trading cards, opened in New York City’s Meatpacking District in November 2025. On January 14th, while hosting its first community arts and crafts event, the store was robbed around 6:45 P.M. ET by three masked men. According to the New York Post, the robbers were wearing anime backpacks and hoodies and were armed with hammers and a handgun, as Fox5NY reported.

I was shocked to see the video ABC7NY got of the robbery! These guys came in with weapons and basically terrorized all the customers – there were about 40 people inside. They smashed a ton of display cases just to get at the Pokémon cards. From what I read on the NYPost and Poke Court’s Instagram, they grabbed a bunch of valuable cards – some were from as far back as 1999, and others were newer, from 2016. Charizard, Ho-Oh, Pikachu, and Treecko were among the cards they stole, and the whole haul is worth over $116,000! They didn’t stop there either – they also took about $1,000 in cash and someone’s phone, apparently a 27-year-old’s.

The whole thing happened in under three minutes. Once the suspects ran away, a worker locked up and reported the crime to the police.

According to a witness who spoke with Fox5NY, the robbers blocked the door and threatened customers with guns. They then began smashing things with a hammer and stealing money from the cash register. No one was allowed to leave during the brief robbery, which lasted only a few minutes.

I’m just relieved everyone is okay,” the witness said to Fox5NY. “Hearing about people smashing things with a hammer and waving guns – seeing the video of them pointing guns at my friends, customers, and neighbors – was terrifying. Thankfully, no one was injured, and I’m very grateful for that.

Courtney Chin, the owner of the shop, described the day as very difficult for both the business and the local community. However, she believes that the actions of a few individuals shouldn’t spoil the fun of collecting Pokémon cards. To prevent similar incidents, the store has increased security at the entrance.

Chin explained to Fox5NY that they’re aiming to establish a secure environment for the community. He expressed his dismay that around 50 people were essentially robbed and held captive.

Alcremie Sundae, a gaming streamer and host at the recent Poke Court community event, shared a heartfelt video on X (formerly Twitter) detailing the robbery. She posted screenshots of the stolen items along with her emotional account of what happened.

Poke Court was robbed at gun point during our top loader decorating event

— AlcremieSundae (@alcremiesundae) January 15, 2026

In a video, she explained that the event was free and meant as a way to give back to the local community. She expressed sadness that something positive, like a Pokémon card arts and crafts session, could be affected by this issue.

So, the police are still trying to figure things out, and those three guys they’re looking for? Still haven’t caught them yet, as far as I know. It’s all happening in New York, of course.

Pokemon card and collectible shops worldwide have been repeatedly targeted by thieves. Recent examples include two robberies in Southern California this month that resulted in over $300,000 worth of merchandise being stolen. Last December, a Pokemon store in Los Angeles was robbed of over $100,000 in cards and collectibles. Earlier in 2025, police in the UK arrested a man found with $332,500 worth of stolen cards (valued at £250,000).

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2026-01-16 22:11