A recent incident in Japan involving a Pokemon TCG shop has taken a wild turn. A man suspected to be the manager of another trading card game store just a few blocks away allegedly stole around $94,000 worth of cash and Pokemon cards from the shop and even threatened the owner with a knife. Yeah, you read that right — a fellow card shop manager.
Pokemon card collecting is usually a fun hobby for many, but the high value of rare cards can sometimes lead to some pretty shady situations. We’ve seen plenty of cases where these cards have been stolen or even caused physical confrontations among fans trying to get their hands on the rarest pieces. This latest event adds a new layer of drama to the community.
Robbery Linked to Another Nearby TCG Shop
According to reports spotted by Automaton, the police arrested a 35-year-old man on July 9, 2025, on suspicion of robbery. The twist? He was the manager of a different TCG shop that also sells Pokemon and One Piece cards, located just a few blocks away.
The accused reportedly stole 123 items, including cash and helpful Pokemon cards, totaling approximately $94,000 in value. Not only that, but he allegedly threatened the victim with a knife during the incident. It wasn’t a solo act either; two accomplices connected to the case have also been arrested.
The shop owner took to social media to reveal the thief’s identity and warned others still involved to come forward. Their message went viral, emphasizing that escaping justice isn’t going to be easy. “Those still involved should surrender immediately. Thinking you won’t get caught is impossible. We will absolutely catch everyone. We welcome any information, no matter how small,” they wrote.
It’s kinda wild to think a manager of a neighboring store would resort to this. How often do you hear about competition turning into crime? Yikes. It raises questions about how intense the battle for rare cards can get. Will this incident change how these shops operate or interact? Time will tell.
What’s your take on this? Should there be tighter security or community oversight for these high-value card shops?
