A burglar armed with a gun and a flair for theatrics smashed into a Duluth game shop, shattered a display case, and took off with roughly $10,000 in rare Pokémon cards, leaving shaken employees to clean up the glass and tally the damage. Gwinnett County detectives say the hit on Wasteland Gaming is one of several recent thefts targeting high‑value trading cards across metro Atlanta, and they later arrested a suspect at a Cobb County store during an alleged attempted resale.
Umbrella act caught on camera
Surveillance video shows a person casually twirling an umbrella outside the front door before hurling an object through the glass and beelining to a case of graded Pokémon cards. The intruder then fires into the display and grabs stacks of collectibles before bolting, according to WSB‑TV. Many of the stolen cards are serialized, which investigators say could help track them if they pop up for sale.
Owner: 'We should probably treat it more like a jewelry store'
James Miller, a co‑owner of Wasteland Gaming on Satellite Boulevard, said the shop has been hit before but this is the first time someone opened fire on a display case. "We should probably treat it more like a jewelry store than a comic book shop," Miller told WSB‑TV, adding that the loss cuts into employee profit‑sharing and has taken a toll on morale.
Suspect nabbed in alleged resale attempt
Gwinnett County detectives say they charged 33‑year‑old Oscar Reyes Montero Stewart of Acworth with second‑degree burglary, second‑degree criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm and tools during the commission of a crime after he was stopped while allegedly trying to sell the stolen cards at another store. The investigation remains active, according to CBS Atlanta.
Police: Treat trading cards like cash
Gwinnett County Police Corporal Ryan Winderweedle told WSB Radio that thieves are increasingly targeting trading cards because they are small, valuable, and easy to flip. He urged shops to lock high‑end items in safes or otherwise slow criminals down. The issue is not confined to Duluth; a December burglary in Carrollton that netted more than $100,000 in cards led to similar warnings from local law enforcement, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
How to help
Gwinnett detectives are asking anyone with information to call (770) 513‑5300 or Crime Stoppers at (404) 577‑8477, CBS Atlanta noted. Investigators say the case is still active and are urging hobby shops to review their displays, inventory records, and security footage as they track leads.
