Irvine police are asking the public to help identify a man who was seen walking into a Target off Jamboree Road earlier this week and walking out with hundreds of dollars' worth of NBA trading cards. The case is the latest entry in the department's weekly #WantedWednesday campaign, which asks residents to help put a name to unsolved theft cases.
According to a post from the Irvine Police Department on Facebook, the unidentified man was seen entering the Target location and making off with the sports cards sometime this week. The store is located off Jamboree Road, according to Target. Anyone with information on the suspect's identity is asked to contact Detective Sampson at [email protected], per the department's post.
A Store With a History of Card Theft
This is not the first time trading cards have drawn thieves to this particular Target. In June 2024, two suspects attempted to steal Pokémon cards and figurines from the same Jamboree Road store before security intervened and recovered the merchandise, according to police reports relayed by New Santa Ana. That earlier incident reflects a broader pattern of would-be thieves targeting unmonitored card displays at the location.
Trading cards have become an increasingly popular target for shoplifters nationwide as secondary-market values have soared since the pandemic, prompting major retailers to move sports and collectible cards behind service desks, install electronic anti-theft tags, or limit how many packs customers can buy at once, per a report from News 3 Las Vegas. Target itself temporarily suspended in-store sales of sports and Pokémon cards nationwide back in May 2021 after chaotic restocks led to parking lot disputes and safety concerns, according to Fanatics Collect.
Card Thefts Have Spiked Across Irvine
The Jamboree Road theft comes amid a string of high-value card crimes in Irvine this year. In August, Irvine police investigated a targeted theft at the nearby Diamond Jamboree shopping center in which a suspect smashed a car window and stole $13,000 worth of collectible Pokémon cards from a person attending a regional convention, as reported by New Santa Ana. Orange County sees more than 6,000 retail theft reports annually, with Irvine cited alongside Santa Ana and Anaheim as a primary focal point for commercial shoplifting, the outlet also reported.
Irvine police are currently pursuing a separate serial shoplifting suspect tied to a string of thefts at Harbor Freight and other Orange County retailers, a case Hoodline covered earlier this week. The department has also handled other recent property crime cases nearby, including an arrest at an Irvine Trader Joe's in February and a $100,000 luxury handbag heist investigation near Jamboree Road in January.
What Charges Could Follow
What Charges Could Follow Whether theft charges are classified as misdemeanors or felonies under California law can depend on the value of the stolen merchandise and, in some cases, the defendant's criminal history. Under California Penal Code 459.5, shoplifting merchandise valued at $950 or less is generally classified as a misdemeanor, while theft exceeding that amount can be charged as grand theft under Penal Code 487, according to Earl Carter Criminal Defense. Since California voters passed Proposition 36 in late 2024, shoplifting or petty theft under $950 can also be elevated to a felony carrying up to three years in state prison if the suspect has two or more prior theft convictions, per the California Legislative Analyst's Office.
Irvine has invested heavily in tools to identify suspects like the one sought this week. Irvine's Real Time Crime Center received $2 million in state funding. A statewide effort has generated 35,907 arrests and recovered more than $293.4 million in stolen merchandise since October 2023, according to the Governor of California's office.
For now, the man behind this week's Target theft remains unidentified. The Irvine Police Department is asking anyone with information to reach out to Detective Sampson directly as the #WantedWednesday appeal continues to circulate.
