Three teenagers arrested in Vancouver after bear-spraying and robbing Pokémon card seller

Police in Vancouver, Canada, have arrested three teenage boys in connection with a violent Pokémon card robbery that occurred the night of Tuesday, April 22nd. Police say the victim met up with the teens shortly after 8 PM, after agreeing to the sale via Facebook Marketplace. The boys then allegedly used bear-spray on the seller and robbed him of the cards. The suspects fled the scene, and only one of the cards has been recovered.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) responded to the robbery-in-progress and were able to intercept the fleeing vehicle about 10 km away from the original scene of the crime. Two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old were arrested on scene. The suspects have already been released from custody with conditions, and the VPD is recommending criminal charges against them.

The victim was selling two Pokémon cards valued at $7,000 CAD each, and only one has been recovered and returned so far. Pokémon TCG theft, especially violent theft, is less common on a person-to-person level, and more commonly occurs as theft of a business, such as the recent high-profile armed robbery of a shop in NYC.

The VPD states this robbery may be a copycat crime, following their arrest of a man accused of bear-spraying and robbing Pokémon TCG sellers at least five separate times. While that suspect has been apprehended, police believe there are additional victims, who they encourage to come forward. Yet another copycat crime, unrelated to these teenage suspects, occurred the day after police released a statement about the original bear-spray robberies. “Anytime we do a news release, we understand there are other people who are watching for the wrong reasons,” said VPD Constable Darren Wong.

Vancouver police encourage buyers and sellers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace to utilize their Safe Exchange location, right outside VPD headquarters. Investigations regarding the teenagers and the original bear-spray robberies are ongoing.

 

I hope that criminal charges are filed against the thieves, and that the victim gets the other stolen cards back.

 

This is the 3rd crime regarding Pokemon committed this year! Whats with people these days?

 

Damn, hope the seller gets his cards back

 

My goodness. I hope the seller gets the cards back.

 

I pray they find the other card. I would hate to hear if the seller forever lost something that valuable.

 

First Germany, then New York and now Vancouver. Why are people ruining the reputation of Pokémon by stealing those cards?

 

These scalpers will stop at nothing including stealing... keep these children in prison, to be honest.

 

pokemon IS this deep