Police have positioned $100,000 value of uncommon Pokemon and Magic the Gathering playing cards after a sequence of golf course thefts within the Toronto space.
In August 2024, police started investigating thefts and break-ins after receiving reviews that golf programs in York, Durham and Waterloo Areas, in addition to Simcoe County, have been focused.
Two months later, on October 16, the police executed seven search warrants at numerous residences and storage lockers, the place they uncovered a treasure trove of stolen objects.
Among the many stolen objects have been 18 golf carts, uncommon Pokemon and Magic the Gathering buying and selling playing cards value roughly $100,000, development instruments, golf golf equipment and medicines similar to marijuana and cocaine.
Up to now, Pokemon and different buying and selling playing cards are utilized by sellers as a type of forex inside the drug commerce.
The investigation resulted in a number of prices being filed towards 4 people. One of many suspects, Andrew Skibinsky, 36, was already contending with a lifetime weapons ban for unrelated prices earlier than being hit with a Possession of a Weapon Opposite to Order cost.
Others charged embody 41-year-old Damien Russell and 48-year-old William Johnston, all from the city of Keswick. 19-year-old Austin Parnell, who was solely charged with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000, hails from Vaughan.
Police say the entire suspects are accountable for the thefts, which whole over $1M. On the time of publication, solely about half of that has been uncovered.
That is hardly the primary time that Canadian Pokemon card thefts have made waves on-line. Earlier this month, a $40k heist was thwarted after sport retailer employees managed to stall thieves of their store by refusing to cease speaking till the police arrived.
Pokemon card crimes have been more and more frequent, with the collectibles promoting for hundreds relying on their rarity. Again in April, 4 individuals have been charged after a Charizard value $7,000 was stolen at knifepoint.