Pokémon raiders have devastated a small business after stealing £30,000 worth of valuable cards in a ‘targeted’ nighttime raid.
The culprits broke into Trove in Winton, Bournemouth on March 4 and ransacked locked glass cabinets containing the valuable Japanese movie franchise items.
It comes as Pokémon cards are now being dubbed ‘more valuable than gold’ due to their popularity among millennial collectors – with live selling platforms such as Whatnot reporting a 282 per cent surge in sales in 2025 compared to the year before.
Trove’s sister store in Bournemouth town centre was also targeted last week and £500 worth of collectables were stolen in a distraction theft.
Trove reported both incidents to the police but say they have become increasingly frustrated at a lack of response – prompting them to take matters into their own hands with social media appeals.
The young man responsible for the £500 theft has since come forward to return the cards after members of the public recognised him and provided his name and address.
But the company are still trying to track down the perpetrators of the £30,000 break-in which ‘devastated’ the collective of small traders inside.
Photos show the devastation in the aftermath of the break-in – with shattered glass scattered over the floor and planks of wood ripped from cabinets.
The business said it felt as though police had left them to ‘solve it ourselves’.
Sian Hillman, manager at Trove Winton, claimed to have not heard anything from police since a forensics officer came to the store the day after the break-in.
The culprits broke into Trove in Winton, Bournemouth (pictured) on March 4 and ransacked locked glass cabinets containing the valuable Japanese movie franchise items
Photos show the devastation in the aftermath of the break-in – with shattered glass scattered over the floor and planks of wood ripped from cabinets
The Trove’s Pokemon cards are pictured. £30,000 worth of valuable cards were stolen in a ‘targeted’ nighttime raid
She said: ‘We have always seen a bit of an issue with shoplifting but it does seem to be increasing, especially with Pokémon cards.
‘It may be that people see that it is valuable and sellable and it’s making it a target.
‘The total Winton theft was worth £30,000 and it was predominantly Pokémon cards.
‘The distraction theft in Bournemouth was for £500 of stock.
‘It is absolutely devastating for the traders who have spent years collecting these things and so much money and effort goes into it.
‘I don’t want to criticise the police but we have been really disappointed.
‘A woman came to do fingerprints but we’ve not heard anything since.
‘We feel like we have been left to solve it ourselves.’
In footage of the £500 theft, a young man in a white hoodie appears in no hurry as he opens the cabinet and pulls out some of the prized examples.
He stuffs them into the pockets of his dark baggy trousers then bizarrely stares at the display for several seconds before heading for the exit.
It is believed that his accomplice was distracting the till staff during the incident.
There have been a spate of high-profile burglaries targeting Pokémon cards in recent months.
In footage of the £500 theft, a young man in a white hoodie appears in no hurry as he opens the cabinet and pulls out some of the prized examples
He stuffs them into the pockets of his dark baggy trousers then bizarrely stares at the display for several seconds before heading for the exit
It was reported that a man from Surrey had £300,000 of Pokémon cards taken from his home, while a Cambridgeshire business lost £100,000 of stock.
Social media influencer Logan Paul sold a rare Pokémon card for a world record £12.4million ($16.5m) last month.
Dorset Police said they are investigating the Winton break-in but no arrests have been made.
A spokesman added: ‘We received a report at 9.06am on Thursday March 5, 2026 of a break-in that had occurred the previous night at Trove in Wimborne Road, Bournemouth.
‘It was reported damage had been caused and stock had been stolen.
‘Enquiries into the incident are ongoing. No arrests have been made at this time.’
Trove in Winton is offering a £1,000 reward to anyone with any information.
They have asked people to contact the shop in the event they are offered large quantities of Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering or other trading cards.
