Collectors up in arms after popular trading card store, Al’s Card Shop, targeted in Pokemon card burglary

Forget catching ‘em all — thieves have decided to steal em’ all instead, with a Perth card store targeted in an early morning Pokemon raid.

Al’s Card Shop, located on Wellington St, has been a staple for WA fanatics wanting to update their card collection with the latest Magic the Gathering, AFL, or Pokemon releases.

Even nerdy A-listers passing through the WA capital make sure to stop at the acclaimed CBD store to nab some cards, including Good Charlotte’s leading duo Benji and Joel Madden who ventured to Al’s back in February.

On Monday, loyal customers were left shocked when the business revealed they would be ‘closing until further notice’ due to an early morning burglary.

“Looks like it’s our turn to fall foul of all . . . who feel the need to steal what obviously isn’t theirs,” the owner of Al’s Card Shop wrote in a public statement.

“Our shop has been broken into in the early hours of this morning — mainly Pokemon singles and slabs, no surprises there.”

The business has urged their collector patrons to keep an eye out for any products that ‘perhaps do not look quite right’.

“We are working on the inventory ASAP but can recollect a Kangaskhan BGS 8.5 with square corners — we will try and post some more later and stay safe everyone,” the business ended their statement.

WA Police confirmed to PerthNow that investigations into the Queen St incident remain ongoing.

“Perth detectives are investigating a burglary incident that occurred on Monday 21 September,” a spokesperson said.

“About 2.40am, unknown individual(s) have forced entry to a store in Cine Centre Arcade, stealing a number of items before fleeing the scene.”

Fortunately, Al’s has since revealed their sudden closure was short-lived — with the venue reopening their doors on Tuesday morning.

The shocking crime is just the latest in a series of burglaries impacting trading card stores, with dozens of businesses around the globe being targeted for their Pokemon cards.

Pokemon trading cards have been around since the mid 1990s.

The cards, which increase in value depending on rarity, have rapidly grown in popularity since COVID — and while the Japanese collectables are still a hobby for many, some are viewing the collectables as a lucrative investment.

Packs of cards typically sell for less than $10, but individual rare cards can be resold for hundreds and even thousands of dollars — with criminals desperate to get their hands on the pricier cards.

In Melbourne, several trading card stores are suspected to have lost more than $1 million worth of Pokemon cards due to a spate of burglaries within a six-month window.

One of the affected Victorian owners, Ryan Street of General Games, said the rise in Pokemon cards was contributing to the problem.

“It’s good because we’re getting a lot more trade, but the negative side is we’re attracting this criminal element,” he told ABC at the time.

Al’s Card Shop wasn’t the first Perth business impacted by the Poke-criminals this year — with a ToyMate in Booragoon having more than $7000 worth of Pokemon cards stolen back in May.

WA Police has urged anyone with information relating to the Queens St burglary to contact Crime Stoppers online or via 1800 333 000.

PerthNow has reached out to Al’s Card Shop for further comment.