Four Victorian men seem to have taken the Pokemon theme song “Gotta Catch ‘em All” a little too literally, allegedly stealing around $50,000 worth of collectable trading cards along with an eclectic mix of other goods during a series of commercial burglaries across the state.
Fortunately, Victoria Police were also inspired by the song and did indeed catch all four men whom they allege are responsible for the thefts.
As well as Pokemon, the burglars are also accused of taking Disney Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, Dragon Ball Z, AFL and NBA cards from three collectable card stores in Epping, Moonee Ponds, and Eumemmerring.
They also allegedly stole cryptocurrency ATMs from Hoppers Crossing, Bentleigh, Brunswick, Werribee and Vermont businesses.
Depending on their rarity and condition, collectable cards can sell for eye-watering sums of money.
Last year, a single card was offered for sale at $6.1 million (US$4 million). The Pikachu Illustrator card is one of the rarest in the franchise because only 39 were made in the 1990s, as a prize for a Japanese magazine contest.
As a result, the card is considered a “holy grail” in the collecting community.
A cryptocurrency ATM, also known as a Bitcoin ATM or BTM, is a machine that lets people buy and sell cryptocurrencies using cash or a debit card.
Because some people want their cryptocurrency transactions to be entirely untraceable, many prefer to use cash, meaning these machines fill up with money as they don’t have a cash withdrawal function, unlike a normal ATM.
Police executed warrants at properties in Reservoir, Coburg North, Greensborough and South Morang last week they found six cryptocurrency ATMs along with the cards, five firearms, power tools, and 100 car keys—all allegedly stolen—along with a pill press and ammunition.
“This was a highly organised and coordinated police operation, and we thank the vigilance of the affected trading card community and the invaluable support from industry partners–which assisted in the dismantling of a significant network of offenders,” said Detective Inspector Patrick Watkinson at the North West Metro Regional Crime Squad.
“We are confident that we have apprehended the main offenders who were sharing their criminal trade craft with lesser offenders.
“Police have also identified ... the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Syndicates [giving orders to] the ... offenders.
