Police have revealed that a man who wore a Spider-Man costume allegedly stole close to $10,000 worth of trading cards related to popular anime from a shop he staked out in Virginia in early March.
20-year-old Joel Brown is accused of breaking into Gaming Giant, a family-owned collectibles store in Fairfax, and stealing a stack of valuable cards on the night of March 14.
Cops say he completed the process while wearing a Spider-Man costume which covered his face.
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Gaming Giant’s owner revealed to FOX 5 that Brown allegedly scouted the store before implementing the theft.
According to reports, Brown made enquiries at the store about specific graded cards related to known anime series Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Pokémon — which were locked in the display case during operating hours.
Highly sought-after trading cards from various series can be professionally graded by experts, significantly increasing their resale value, sometimes by thousands of dollars, if they are in top condition.
According to Gaming Giant’s Facebook page, the store owner reported that Brown broke into the shop after hours on Friday night, stealing “numerous graded slabs as well as sealed Pokémon products.”
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Police then received tips about the burglary and arrested the Virginia man in the Spider-Man costume shortly afterwards.
According to the Fairfax Police Department, the Virginia man was charged with burglary and released on an unsecured bond.
The demand for trading cards, particularly Pokémon, has reportedly surged in recent years.
As retailers like Target prepare for the release of a new expansion pack this Friday, past incidents show the buzz surrounding these collectibles.
Stores have struggled to manage crowds and chaos as customers often rush to secure their packs and make their preferred purchases.
In January, a Costco in Los Angeles saw an all-out brawl break out over trading cards.
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Similarly, in 2021, Target halted the sale of Pokémon and sports trading cards temporarily to prevent frequent parking lot fights that erupted with every single release.
