A masked suspect tried to take a binder of trading cards from Middle Tennessee Gaming in Nashville on Saturday night at about 7:30 p.m., according to WSMV. A Magic: The Gathering Star Trek prerelease was underway. The business said the binder held cards valued from $15 to $1,000.
According to WSMV, the suspect targeted the binder in the middle of the tabletop tournament, a detail that underscores just how brazen the attempt was with a room full of players and staff nearby. Management told the outlet a police report has been filed over the incident.
A Change in Card Displays
Middle Tennessee Gaming told WSMV that Saturday’s incident was its fourth attempted robbery in three months.
The shop also told WSMV it would stop using binders to display or store trading cards.
Other Nashville card-theft context
In a separate case involving more than $31,000 worth of rare cards, WSMV reported that an affidavit alleged two suspects broke into The Game Cave on Lebanon Pike on September 2, 2024, and stole Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards. That case involved a break-in at a different shop, not an attempted binder theft at Middle Tennessee Gaming.
For the Star Trek prerelease format underway at Middle Tennessee Gaming, Wizards of the Coast says participants build a 40-card sealed deck.
What Happens Next
No additional details about the suspect or the status of the police report have been released. Middle Tennessee Gaming operates in Nashville, where it hosts Magic: The Gathering events like the Star Trek prerelease that was underway when Saturday's attempt occurred.
