Vancouver police say they arrested a trio of teenagers who allegedly used bear spray during a Pokémon card robbery this week.
The victim met with the suspects near East King Edward Avenue and Ontario Street around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, according to police, after arranging over Facebook Marketplace to sell two cards worth $7,000 each.
Instead, police say, the suspects used bear spray on the victim, then fled in a vehicle with the cards.
Vancouver police caught up with the suspects in Burnaby, but were only able to recover one of the victim’s cards.
Pokemon card thieves break into Lower Mainland shops
While most Pokémon cards hold little value, rare cards can sometimes be worth thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In one recent example, influencer Logan Paul sold a rare Pikachu Illustrator card for $16 million US.
That has led to an uptick in thefts and robberies as thieves seek to cash in on a portable and easy-to-sell commodity.
Stores in the Lower Mainland were recently forced to boost security amid a spate of costly break-ins.
Last month, Vancouver police even turned to a sting operation to catch an alleged card thief.
Here’s why Pokémon card thefts are on the rise
Police are recommending charges against two 15-year-old boys and one 16-year-old boy in the Tuesday bear spray incident.
All three have been released from custody with conditions.
Investigators say the incident is a good reminder to anyone buying or selling goods to do so in a public place, including the VPD Safe Exchange Location situated outside the Vancouver Police Department headquarters at 2120 Cambie St.
