FBI investigating theft of more than 6000 PSA-graded trading cards, including almost 3000 Pokémon cards
The FBI and Santa Ana police are investigating the theft of 6,451 PSA-graded trading cards from a FedEx truck in California. The cards were taken on 13 October after being collected from PSA’s Santa Ana facility, and the company says recovering them and returning them to their owners is its priority.
The haul includes 2,978 Pokémon cards, 898 One Piece cards, 880 basketball cards, 640 baseball cards and 433 American football cards; its reported total value exceeds $963,000. PSA has published the stolen items’ certification details, deactivated their certification numbers and shared the list with sellers and trading platforms. It has refunded grading fees and is arranging compensation based on fair market value, subject to each item’s insured limit.
In short
- 6,451 graded cards were stolen from a FedEx truck in California.
- Nearly 3,000 of the cards were Pokémon cards.
- PSA has deactivated certification numbers and is arranging compensation.
Explained simply
PSA is a company that checks trading cards, assigns them a grade for condition and seals them in protective cases with certification numbers. Collectors often use graded cards to assess their condition and value, and buyers can check the numbers against PSA’s records.
Trading cards cover many interests, including Pokémon, One Piece and professional sport. Their value can vary widely with the card’s rarity, condition and demand, so collectors and marketplaces rely on certification details to identify cards and verify their grading.
The case involves a large number of cards from several collecting communities, with a reported value of more than $963,000. The certification records may help sellers and platforms recognise the cards, while PSA’s compensation arrangements concern the owners’ insured limits.