Police say a 35-year-old St. Louis County man is behind a string of Hazelwood home break-ins that ended with more than $10,000 worth of Pokémon cards and several pieces of jewelry missing. Detectives arrested Dashon White this week and prosecutors have charged him with stealing ($750 or more), first-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree burglary. He is being held on a $200,000 bond, and a preliminary hearing is set for May 26, 2026, as the case moves through St. Louis County court.
According to Hazelwood police and a probable-cause statement reviewed by FOX 2, the three alleged break-ins took place between June 30 and July 1, 2025. Investigators say security camera footage and other records tied the incidents together. The filing describes one homeowner spotting a stranger in a hallway, with that person taking off after the resident retrieved a gun. The statement lists more than $10,000 in Pokémon cards taken from one home and multiple pieces of jewelry taken from another. Surveillance video allegedly linked the suspect to a vehicle rented through Enterprise, and investigators say cellphone data tied to White pinged near all three reported break-in locations at the times they occurred.
Why Pokémon Cards Keep Landing in Thieves’ Crosshairs
Collectors are not the only ones eyeing trading cards as their values climb. Thieves have noticed too, turning shops and private collections into tempting targets. The Los Angeles Times has reported on a run of smash-and-grab and tunnel burglaries in Southern California that netted tens of thousands of dollars in cards, and ABC News has highlighted similar heists around the country as demand and prices surge. Dealers and law enforcement say cards can be tough to trace once they are resubmitted for grading or flipped on secondary markets, which makes them appealing to organized thieves.
Neighbors, Cameras and Cops Connect the Dots
Hazelwood police say tips from neighbors and footage from home security cameras helped build the case that led to White’s arrest this spring. Court records show White has prior felony burglary convictions and at least one pending felony case, and he remains in custody awaiting the preliminary hearing. Local investigators told authorities who prepared the probable-cause filing that rental records, video and cellphone data together formed the backbone of the charges, according to FOX 2.
Legal Process and What Comes Next
White is set to appear at the preliminary hearing on May 26, 2026, where a judge will decide whether there is probable cause to hold him for trial. Under Missouri law, burglary in the first degree is classified as a class B felony, as outlined in the Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Media coverage of the arrest notes that investigators are asking anyone with information about the June 30–July 1 break-ins to contact Hazelwood police so detectives can follow up on tips.
