Police carry out major sting operation to catch serial Pokemon card robber

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Vancouver police have arrested a man suspected of robbing people he met through Facebook Marketplace while they were selling Pokemon cards. He’s accused of targeting sellers in multiple robberies.

Police reported several robberies in late March where people thought they were meeting someone to buy something, but instead were robbed.

Suspect used bear spray to steal high-value cards

According to police, the suspect met with people selling valuable Pokémon cards – some worth as much as thousands of dollars – in public places.

According to Vancouver Police Staff Sergeant Ryan Campbell, the suspect would meet people selling trading cards in public places. Instead of buying the cards, he’s accused of spraying them with bear spray, stealing the cards, and then fleeing.

These incidents happened between March 23rd and 27th, and investigators believe a single person is responsible for at least five of them.

Police used a sting operation to arrest the suspect. They pretended to be online sellers and set up a meeting, then took him into custody when he arrived.

The investigation is still underway, and police believe there may be other people affected who haven’t reported it yet.

The Vancouver Police Department is encouraging people who buy or sell things online to meet for transactions at designated safe exchange locations.

The Pokemon Trading Card Game has become incredibly popular recently, but excitement has especially surged this year. This is partly because the Pokemon franchise will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026.

On April 3rd, customers in the UK broke down the security gate of a store, eager to purchase the Ascended Heroes set of a popular game.

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2026-04-05 17:18