Aug 3, 2025
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Add us on GoogleIn a brazen smash-and-grab in DeLand, Florida, a masked thief made off with an estimated $25,000 to $30,000 in rare Pokémon cards from Gem Mint Cards in a burglary that lasted just 75 seconds.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect smashing the glass front door, storming into the store with a large plastic tub and targeting the front display case.
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Shop owner Christen Wybo told News 6, “There was glass everywhere, cards everywhere.”
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As the collectible card market heats up, small shops have become increasingly at risk to burglaries. Here’s what happened, and what shop owners can do to protect themselves.
‘Glass everywhere, cards everywhere’
According to FOX 35, the suspect seemed to be targeting high-value Pokémon cards specifically. There were several rare cards in the case, including one graded a "Gem Mint 10."
"That means it's basically a perfect card in grading and condition," Shop owner Christen Wybo explained to FOX 35, "It happened to fall forward and was stuck against the glass. It’s one of the few things he didn’t grab."
Wybo told FOX 35 Orlando that the situation is “terrible,” saying that the shop is meant to be “fun and open to everybody.”
Despite the financial hit, the store has gotten an outpouring of community support after posting the footage online.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the amazing community that’s been built here and for the continued support from every player and patron,” the shop wrote.
The store was temporarily closed to assess damages, but has since repaired the front entrance and reopened its doors to customers.
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Pattern of theft emerges at Florida card stores
While this was the first time Gem Mint Cards had been targeted, the hit appears far from random. The shop suspects a connection to a string of similar heists at other card stores across the state.
Similar robberies have taken place in the past few months, according to News 6, including in New Bedford, where more than $113,000 in graded Pokémon cards were stolen in just 30 seconds. In Jacksonville, police say $5,000 worth of Pokémon cards were taken in a smash-and-grab. And in Belleville, police say a thief stole $35,000 worth of cards.
“Based on security footage, it appears to be the same individual responsible for multiple thefts at other card shops across Florida. Same hoodie, gloves and tote,” the shop wrote on Facebook.
Local police have not confirmed any official link between the other cases, and no arrests have been made.
Why Pokémon — and what can retailers do?
From Massachusetts to Florida, the trend of ultra-fast thefts is shaking the collectibles world, but why Pokémon cards?
Collectible trading cards have exploded in resale value over the past few years, with top-condition items selling for thousands, or even tens of thousands, online, making shops like Gem Mint Cards a target for thieves looking to cash in fast.
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Rare Pokémon cards are high-value and highly liquid. Ultra rare cards can be sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, like the first edition Charizard.
Perpetrators are being strategic, too. They’re scouting storefronts, layouts and display cases leading up to their planned hit. They time robberies for the middle of the night when shops are closed.
They’re getting in and out quickly and making sure to stay anonymous by wearing masks and gloves. And the stolen goods are sold off anonymously online through platforms like eBay and Discord so that there’s no trace.
What business owners can do
For small business owners, the losses are brutal, and recovery is difficult. While shop owners may feel powerless, there are steps they can take to reduce risk. If you want to protect your collectibles, retail experts recommend:
Take inventory: Photograph and log serial numbers of high-value cards and collectibles.
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Level up security: Install reinforced glass, motion detectors, and silent alarms. Surveillance footage can help catch suspects, or at least warn other stores.
Don’t display everything: Don’t leave your most valuable merchandise in display cases overnight. Use vaults or safes after hours.
While these strategies can’t prevent every break-in, they can limit losses and improve recovery odds. For stores like Gem Mint Cards — meant to be a place of joy and community — the emotional impact often hits just as hard as the financial one.
As Wybo put it: “It’s terrible that the stress of this has to be associated with something that’s supposed to be fun and open to everybody.”
With thieves zeroing in on niche collectibles, the industry may need to rethink what safety looks like in a market that’s no longer under the radar.
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Freelance writer with an economic development and consulting background.
