Two brothers have been sentenced for their involvement in a burglary that saw over £62,000 worth of Pokémon cards stolen from a shop in Warrington, Cheshire. Shane Johnson, 37, and his younger brother Keith Johnson, 33, carried out the raid on Celestial Collectables on April 8.
Clad in face masks and tracksuits, the brothers used a crowbar to break into the premises. CCTV footage showed them targeting the till area, shattering glass display cabinets and filling a large carrier bag with trading cards, slabs, packs, and booster boxes. The burglary, which lasted over four minutes, also resulted in significant damage to the shop's interior, including the door, wall cabinets, and counter, with an estimated cost of over £3,000.
Detectives identified a white Ford Transit van, bearing cloned number plates, used in the burglary. Further investigation revealed the van had traveled from Birmingham to Warrington and was later found to have been parked outside Keith Johnson's address. The vehicle contained Pokémon cards, a box with the shop's logo, and tools associated with burglaries. The brothers were observed transferring their stolen goods to another van, which was later found parked near Shane Johnson's residence.
The pair also targeted The Graded Gallery in Rugby, Warwickshire, on April 14, where they again used a crowbar to gain entry and stole more Pokémon cards and other items, causing over £9,000 in damage and stock loss. They fled in a Nissan X-Trail, which was later found parked outside Keith Johnson's property, leading to their arrest. A search of the vehicle uncovered keys to the van used in the Warrington burglary, along with stolen property.
Both brothers pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary with intent to steal. Keith Johnson was sentenced to 29 months' imprisonment at Birmingham Crown Court on July 2. Shane Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced at the same court on July 31.
Detective Constable Hannah Smith stated that the evidence gathered was overwhelming, leaving the brothers with no choice but to plead guilty. This incident follows a series of high-profile thefts of Pokémon merchandise, as the market value of the franchise's collectibles has surged, particularly as the Japanese movie franchise marked its 30th anniversary on February 27. Experts attribute the rising value to collectors preserving cards in good condition and a burgeoning 'nostalgia economy' driven by affluent collectors.