Thieves are targeting mail-order sales of Pokémon cards, with envelopes being opened in transit and costing small businesses thousands of pounds. The surge follows a boom in card prices, with one card recently selling for £12m, and an increasing number of people entering the collecting business for profit.
Targeted thefts reported
Ben Thyer, owner of Bath TCG, a card specialist store in the Bath area, reported a batch of seven envelopes from the same shipment arriving cut open with cards missing. “We always get the odd parcel going missing, but because it was sporadic, we put that down to unfortunate incidents,” Thyer told the Guardian. “Then [in late July], we had a message [from a customer] with pictures of a cut-open envelope, and the cards were missing. Then there was a second, and then a third, and then there were seven – all of them from the same batch shipped on the same day.”
Thyer noted that every envelope had been resealed with Sellotape, which his business does not use, as they use brand new envelopes with their own labels over the seals. “It’s clear someone had done it deliberately,” he said.
Impact on businesses
Thyer has since halted online card sales, citing the risk of theft and damaged reputation. This has cost him £4,000-6,000 in potential revenue. Daniel Stack, director of Mana Rock Games, a Magic: The Gathering card seller also based in Bath, experienced similar issues over similar dates. “I realised it was theft when two customers in different parts of the country sent me pictures of their packages already open with the contents missing, within minutes of each other,” Stack said. He estimated about £120-worth of cards stolen, after previously sending over 1,200 orders without issues. Stack also paused online sales for a week, costing £500 in revenue.
Ongoing investigation
Royal Mail is investigating the issue and liaising with affected businesses. A spokesperson told the Guardian: “The safety and security of mail is a top priority and we take any reports of theft very seriously. We investigate concerns thoroughly and take action where necessary, including working with law enforcement.” Investigations are ongoing, and businesses must decide between risking theft or halting online sales. With a new Pokémon card set due for release this month, retailers anticipate increased scalper activity and further theft risks. The Pokémon Company has not yet responded to requests for comment.
