Grandmaster Games, a trading card shop on Indianapolis' south side, is cleaning up after an early Friday burglary that left smashed display cases and roughly $10,000 worth of Pokémon cards missing. Employees arrived to find dozens of high-value graded cards gone, but the shop says it will stay open while the glass is replaced and the damage is repaired.
Police say the break-in was reported around 5:52 a.m. at Grandmaster Games inside the Southern Plaza shopping center, and investigators estimate about $10,000 in Pokémon cards were taken, according to WIBC 93.1 FM. In a social media post, the business described the suspect as masked and wearing a jacket and said the thief focused on graded cards and merchandise in the display cases, leaving the cash registers alone. The store told followers it is sweeping up broken glass, replacing damaged cases and plans to keep serving customers while the investigation plays out.
Why thieves are targeting trading cards
Collectors and police say certain graded and low-numbered cards can pull in big money on resale markets, which makes smaller hobby shops like Grandmaster Games appealing targets. In metro Atlanta, police recently reported multiple thefts, including arrests after thousands of dollars in Pokémon cards were stolen. Investigators told 95.5 WSB that thieves see the cards as easy items to move. Local shop owners say these incidents are pushing fresh conversations about tougher display cases, safes and other security upgrades.
Recent spikes nationwide
The Indy break-in lands in the middle of a wave of high-profile card heists this year. In December, a burglary in Burbank reportedly netted about $100,000 in collectibles, and two other Southern California incidents together topped $300,000, according to reporting by GameSpot. In those cases, suspects used force to smash their way into displays or, in some instances, targeted individual collectors, highlighting the different tactics criminals are trying as card values climb.
Indy remembers a major Gen Con theft
Indianapolis has seen this kind of crime on an even larger scale. During Gen Con 2023, about $300,000 worth of cards were taken from vendor pallets during convention setup. IMPD later released photos and asked the public for help identifying people of interest in that case, as reported by WRTV. For the Grandmaster Games burglary, IMPD is investigating, and the business says staff have been on site handling repairs, according to local reports.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about the Grandmaster Games break-in can submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477) or online at Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana, the group’s website says. The shop has told customers it plans to remain open and continue working with police as the case moves forward.
