In what could only be considered a sign of the times, instances of high-stakes theft involving Pokémon cards are making headlines, not just for their value but for the diversity of thieves—spanning from the homeless to organized crime members. In Miami, a brazen attempt to snatch $30,000 worth of Pokémon cards ended in an arrest at Pro Play Games. According to WSVN, 33-year-old homeless man Jasiel Manfarrol was charged with theft and assault after allegedly threatening a store employee with pliers during the theft.

On Monday evening, Manfarrol reportedly entered the Pro Play Games store and lunged for a binder full of the collectible cards. As the store owner placed the item on the counter, the would-be thief made his move but was quickly confronted by patrons and the manager. The chase didn't last long, and Manfarrol was apprehended near the shopping center, ensuring an unhappy ending for what could've been a Pokémon payday. During the confrontation, Manfarrol armed himself with a pair of pliers and “made several stabbing motions” towards a witness, as per the arrest report provided by the Miami police, as reported by WSVN.

Fueling concerns about the rise in Pokémon card-related crimes, a post from X of Game Rant reveals the arrest of an actual Yakuza member for a similar theft. This unexpected twist in the tale of trading card theft illuminates a yet grimmer facet of black-market interests.

A Yakuza member gets arrested after stealing Pokemon cards, showing that crime involving Pokemon is more widespread than expected. https://t.co/XIRTRDJb9q

— Game Rant (@GameRant) May 6, 2024