A California trading card fell victim to three thieves who allegedly made off with roughly $15,000 worth of Pokémon cards during a brazen late-night burglary that lasted less than a minute.
According to authorities via ABC News, three masked suspects targeted The Card Lab in Brentwood on Saturday night, quickly entering the store and grabbing valuable collectibles before fleeing the scene.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured the suspects jumping over display cases and clearing out merchandise in approximately 39 seconds.
Police said the group escaped in a Nissan Altima and remains at large as the investigation continues.
Store owner Ronnie Hackett said The Card Lab only opened its doors about two months ago. Speaking to local media, Hackett said his immediate concern after learning about the break-in was the safety of his employee, who was inside the building at the time.
The store's manager was reportedly working on another level of the shop when the burglary occurred.
"My first thought was, 'I hope that my employee was OK,'" Hackett said. He added that he was relieved to learn she was unharmed.
Following the theft, The Card Lab temporarily closed while additional security measures were installed.
The incident is the latest in a growing number of crimes targeting collectible trading cards, which have surged in value amid continued demand from collectors and investors.
Just days before the California burglary, a hobby shop in New Jersey was hit in a similar fashion. Authorities said masked suspects forced their way into a store in Rochelle Park and stole between $40,000 and $50,000 worth of cards and merchandise in less than two minutes. That break-in was also captured on surveillance video.
The recent string of thefts highlights the increasingly lucrative market surrounding rare Pokémon cards and other collectibles, some of which can fetch thousands of dollars on the secondary market.
While investigators continue searching for the Brentwood suspects, Hackett says he remains committed to the business despite the setback.
