SANTA ANA, Calif. — Nearly $963,000 worth of rare trading cards, including highly sought-after Pokémon and sports cards, were stolen from a FedEx truck parked outside the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) office in Santa Ana, police said. The theft, reported to have occurred on Oct. 13, targeted pallets of graded collectibles submitted from collectors nationwide.
What happened
Santa Ana police said thieves broke into a parked FedEx truck while the driver was away from the vehicle for an estimated 60 to 90 minutes. Two full pallets of collectible cards were removed, and portions of a third pallet were taken, according to the department. The stolen items are believed to be hundreds of cards that had been submitted to PSA for authentication and grading.
"The pallets contained various trading cards, including, but not limited to, sports cards and Pokémon cards," the Santa Ana Police Department said in a statement.
Authorities estimate the haul is worth about $963,000, though the exact value has not been finalized. No arrests had been announced as of the latest statement, and the Santa Ana Police Department said the investigation remains ongoing.
Response from PSA and parent company
Collectibles companies and the parent company that operates PSA responded to the incident. In a statement to ABC News, the parent company said it has been cooperating with law enforcement and the carrier as the probe continues. The company also said it deactivated the certificates for the missing cards and alerted marketplace partners to watch for rare, serialized items.
"We are aware of a theft involving a third-party shipping vehicle carrying PSA-graded items. We are working closely with law enforcement and the carrier as the investigation continues," the company said in its statement.
PSA-graded cards are often tracked with serial numbers and certification details that can help identify stolen items if they surface for sale. The cards taken in this incident had been sent from collectors around the country for evaluation and return.
Wider context and market impact
The crime adds to a spate of high-profile thefts targeting collectible cards, particularly Pokémon, which have surged in market value in recent years. Collecting and grading services like PSA play a central role in that market, certifying condition and authenticity — factors that heavily influence a card’s resale value.
For collectors, losses like this are not just financial. The stolen cards represent personal investments and, in many cases, items with strong emotional value. The removal of certificates and notices to marketplace partners aim to reduce the chance that the stolen cards will be successfully resold through legitimate channels, but investigators warned that criminal networks can still move valuable items across state lines and into secondary markets.
- Location: Outside PSA office in Santa Ana, California
- Date of incident: Oct. 13
- Estimated value: $963,000 (final valuation pending)
- Items taken: Hundreds of graded trading cards, including sports cards and Pokémon
| Date | Location | Estimated value | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 13 | Santa Ana, Calif. | $963,000 | PSA-graded sports and Pokémon trading cards |
Video shared in related reporting has shown thieves executing similar break-ins at other locations, sometimes smashing display cases and removing hundreds of cards in minutes. Those incidents, along with this FedEx truck theft, highlight both the demand for high-end trading cards and the vulnerabilities in transporting and storing these items.
Next steps
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate. The involved carrier, PSA and its parent company are coordinating and have taken immediate steps to impede resale of the stolen, serialized items. As the probe develops, authorities are expected to provide additional details about potential suspects or recovery efforts.
For collectors and dealers, the case is a reminder to document serial numbers, maintain robust shipping protocols, and work with insurers and grading companies to protect high-value items in transit.
This story will be updated as police release new information and as collectors and the market respond to the evolving investigation.
