Ben Powell, owner of Full Fire TCG in Gloucester, is raising alarms over a recent surge in Pokémon card shop burglaries that have left him and others worried about the safety of shop owners and employees. Earlier this month, three masked intruders forced their way into Powell’s business with a crowbar, breaking through a door and window before stealing up to £25,000 worth of highly collectible card games such as Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering.
The incident was caught on CCTV, revealing one of the raiders wielding the crowbar as they ransacked the small shop in the city’s docks area. Powell shared the footage amid reports of similar thefts elsewhere; notably, a man in Surrey had £300,000 worth of Pokémon cards stolen from his home, while a Cambridgeshire business reported losses of £100,000, and another shop in Bournemouth lost £30,000 worth of cards.
Powell believes the recent high-profile sale of a rare Pokémon card by social media influencer Logan Paul for a record-breaking £12.4 million has attracted more criminal attention to these collectible card games. “I know of at least three other shops, besides ours, that have been broken into since Christmas,” Powell said. “It’s frightening. How long before someone gets seriously hurt? What if a staff member had been here during the break-in?”
Powell, who opened Full Fire TCG 15 months ago, employs one person and relies on a volunteer. His employee often works late hours, which raises concerns about potential encounters with burglars. Since the break-in on February 21, Powell has struggled with anxiety and sleepless nights. “The violation of the shop is enough to give you nightmares,” he explained. “I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since it happened.”
Feeling vulnerable, Powell noted that the police have yet to follow up on the incident, leaving him feeling like a “sitting duck.” He has since installed additional alarms at his home, fearing the burglars might have followed him after closing the shop. Despite the trauma, Powell remains determined to continue his business but plans to stop stocking the most valuable card games and strengthen security measures.
He hopes that raising awareness will bring more attention to the rising wave of targeted thefts and prompt a stronger police response. “It feels like because no one was physically hurt, it doesn’t matter,” he added.
Gloucestershire Constabulary has been contacted for comment regarding the ongoing investigation into the burglary.