Pokmon cards hit record value with some 'worth millions' - but criminals are after them

Armed gangs are planning elaborate heists and wealthy collectors are forking out millions to get their hands on rare Pokmon cards - as demand for the Japanese collectibles reaches new highs.

In some instances, single cards have fetched over 12 million at auction, as enthusiasts desperately pour through their collections in hopes of finding a rare item.

And with rising prices, criminals seem determined to get in on the act, with a spate of heists hitting card shops up and down the UK, while one shop in the US was robbed at gunpoint for around $100,000 worth of Pokmon stock. So what's causing this Pokmania, and could ordinary Brits be sitting on hordes of valuable cards?

Pokmania:

The soaring Pokmon obsession has hit never before seen heights, with a recent auction seeing one card sold for $16,492,000 (12,180,000)

The ultra rare Pikachu Illustrator card was sold by YouTuber Logan Paul for the eye-watering sum to an American venture capitalist.

Whilst it's very unlikely that ordinary collectors have a Pikachu Illustrator, as it was never sold in the UK and only 41 were ever produced, hundreds of cards that are owned by Brits have seen their values sky-rocket.

One card-loving Brit bloke funded his wedding by selling three rare Pokmon cards for 32,800.

Andrew Braund discovered his old collection while doing up his attic, and told reporters that he was astonished at their value.

The cards were be auctioned at Ewbank's in Woking, Surrey, last Thursday (April 10), fetching an eye-watering 17,000, 13,000 and 2,800 respectively.

Braund reportedly said: "When I saw how much the cards had sold for, I thought 'wow, blimey".

Card-jacking:

As prices rise and rise, it's no surprise that opportunistic criminals seem desperate to get in on the act.

The UK has seen multiple Pokmon robberies in just the last few months, with collections worth six-figure sums snatched in smash-and-grab thefts.

One shop in Warrington was broken into on April 8 with over 60,000 worth of stock nabbed by card-hungry criminals.

Shops in Bournemouth, Gloucester and Peterborough saw cards with a combined value of 140,000 taken, in what appears to be a growing trend.

Chris Grundy, who owns Celestial Collectables in Warrington told the BBC that he was thankful the 60,000 loss was not higher, as the thieves were unable to access the ultra-valuable cards kept in the safe.

He said: "Luckily enough all the cash and higher value stock goes into the safe," he said.

"Most of what they stole were graded cards, a load of single cards and a load of sealed, foiled packs. Collection boxes ranging from 40 to 300."

Explaining how the thieves hit the store, Grundy said: ""They pulled up outside the shop in a transit van, they moved the cameras up with brushes and knocked the glass panel through.

"Then in pretty much four minutes they ransacked the whole shop."

And it's not just the UK that has seen criminals target shops selling Pokmon. In the US, armed robbers have forced stores to hand over cards worth over $100,000, terrifying customers and employees.

Eye-witnesses at the Manhattan store described the robbers has being armed with 'guns' and 'hammers', and stated that customers were forced to remain in the premises while the robbery took place.

How to know if your cards are valuable

The first thing experts will tell you when valuing your cards in that it's all about condition.

Collectors use a system called PSA to grade cards. Things like bent corners or faded pictures likely mean any value will drop, so those that kept their Pokmon in cases or binders are likely to have a better chance of a profit.

Popular Pokmon, like Charizard and Pikachu, are likely to be worth more, as are cards produced between 1999-2005, with collectors looking for nostalgia hits.

Things like holographic cards or limited edition Pokmon are also likely to have an increased value.

To find out about individual cards, experts often check sites like eBay and pokecardvalues.co.uk to check their collection.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

[Google Preferred Source Badge]Follow Daily Star: