Two Detroit-area trading card shops are picking up the pieces — both emotionally and financially — after being hit by brazen, early-morning break-ins that appear to be part of a disturbing new trend: criminals going after high-value Pokémon cards.
The first incident happened just before sunrise last Friday at RIW Hobbies & Gaming in Livonia. Owner Pam Willoughby sat down to review her security footage and found herself watching two masked intruders smash their way into her store with hammers. What she saw next was something that stuck with her.
“They weren’t just stealing. They were swinging that hammer around like it was a game. That’s the part that really unsettled me,” she said. “It felt more like an intrusion than a theft.”
Their target was clear — Pokémon cards. The burglars stole thousands of dollars’ worth of them, capitalizing on what’s become a feverish demand among collectors.
“These cards go in cycles, but right now we’re definitely in a high,” Willoughby noted. “Prices are soaring, and everyone’s chasing the next big pull.”
Adding another layer of suspicion, the theft came on the same day as the opening of Motor City Comic Con, a massive draw for card vendors and collectors. Willoughby suspects the thieves may have intended to offload the stolen inventory there.
Just days later, another break-in followed the same script. Around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, a thief smashed into Eternal Games in Warren. Assistant manager Dakota Olszewski described the intruder as methodical, avoiding damage to display cases by simply jumping over them and helping themselves to even more Pokémon products.
“They were in and out fast. It was clear they knew exactly what they were after,” he said.
It’s not the first time card stores in the area have been targeted. Back in December, two individuals posed as customers before stealing from multiple collectible shops in Macomb County. Authorities eventually caught and charged those responsible.
But the most recent thefts have left shop owners on edge once again. For small businesses that survive on narrow margins and loyal customer bases, the damage is more than financial.
“You work hard to build a space for your community, and suddenly it doesn’t feel safe anymore,” Willoughby said. “That sense of security is gone.”
Both RIW and Eternal Games are ramping up their defenses — more cameras, reinforced entry points, and a renewed sense of caution.
Police have not officially linked the two cases, though the similarities are hard to ignore. Investigations are ongoing.
Collectors, too, are being asked to keep an eye out. If rare cards pop up for resale in questionable places, shop owners are hoping the community can help track them down.
Anyone with tips about the Warren break-in is encouraged to contact Detective Kranz at 586-574-4780. For the Livonia theft, call the Livonia Police Department at 734-466-2470.