Pokemon Card Thefts Are Getting Worse As Values Spike

Published Sep 4, 2026, 7:48 AM EDT Niall (pronounced Ny-ul) is a UK-based writer who has been writing about Magic: The Gathering throughout his entire career, with everything from new set breakdowns and individual deck guides to offering his opinions on the state of formats and the general direction of the iconic TCG. Niall also has a rich history covering triple-A releases, sports games, and PC hardware. A new report shows that Pokémon card sellers in the UK are growing increasingly fearful that their cards will be stolen in transit, as reports of thefts are on the rise, just like card prices. Those committing the thefts are opening packages they believe to contain Pokémon cards due to the style of packaging or a clue on the postage label, removing anything of value, and resealing the product before ensuring it still reaches its destination. Shop owners and private sellers are struggling to trust the UK's primary method of delivery, Royal Mail, who have provided a very generic statement on the matter, while those looking to keep their businesses running are left to either find alternative delivery providers or continue risking their stock with Royal Mail. Pokémon Thefts Rise In The UK As Businesses Are Left Out Of Pocket Team Rocket's Handiwork, by Hitoshi Ariga In this report from The Guardian, they spoke to multiple business owners who ship Pokémon or Magic: The Gathering cards to customers. One is Bath TCG, which has a bricks-and-mortar store and online presence, and the other is Mana Rock Games, a solely online trader. Typically, online sales are made using Card Market. This means that the buyer selects the shipping method, not the seller, and it's impossible to avoid Royal Mail as an option for both domestic and international postage, as the choice isn't theirs. In some cases, as discussed by the shop owners, thieves are opening packages, stealing anything of value, then resealing the package to ensure it gets to its destination. This is effectively to try to take any responsibility away from the courier and place it at the feet of the seller. Many card sellers, myself included, use hard-backed envelopes for delivery, a safe choice for small quantities of trading cards, but this is now a signal to thieves that there may be good value within. Even if you're not using these envelopes, thieves may use whatever postage label is on the package to figure out what may be within. Without photographic proof of how a package was sealed prior to it being sent, it would be impossible to know whether the seller is telling the truth. Even then, it's just as tricky to figure out where in the delivery process the thieves are taking action. Drastic measures had to be taken to protect reputations, and the two sellers who talked to The Guardian both halted online sales, but found that it was just too detrimental to the cash flow of the business. Regardless, this isn't a choice any business should have to make in the first place. Card Theft Is Nothing New, And Neither Is Inaction While Royal Mail has provided a generic statement condemning the thefts and promising to look into what could have happened, I wouldn't expect any dramatic action or changes to how such parcels are handled in the near future. If anything, I can see sellers being told to better package or disguise what they are selling, rather than accepting any accountability for the thefts or loss of earnings. Anyone who has dealt with a courier service regarding a missing or damaged parcel can empathize with these Pokémon sellers because the process of trying to claim compensation is convoluted and never a guarantee. With the Pokémon 30th anniversary set on the horizon to close out the year, thieves will be gearing up to try and capitalize on further weaknesses in the delivery chain to take more product for themselves to resell at an extortionate price. Franchise Pokemon Original Release Date October 20, 1996 Player Count 2 Age Recommendation 6+