Burglars stole 12 rare Pokémon cards valued at approximately £12,000 from a home in West Moors, Dorset, while the owner was on a 10-day holiday. The thieves gained entry by forcing a bathroom window and took the entire safe containing the cards and some cash from a bedroom cupboard. Nothing else in the house was taken, leading the owner to suspect a targeted raid.
Nathan Dallimore, 34, had only recently had the cards professionally valued in June. He had originally purchased the collection, which commemorates Pokémon's 20th anniversary, with his twin brother for £50 about nine or ten years ago. The cards were graded with a 10 by the Professional Sports Authenticator, the highest possible score for items in pristine condition.
This incident follows a reported increase in thefts of valuable collector's items, coinciding with a rise in the market value of rare Pokémon cards. Last week, a collection of cards left in an attic for over a decade was reportedly sold for £1.56 million.
Dorset Police confirmed they received a report of the burglary at 1:38 a.m. on October 11. The occupants had been away since September 30. Enquiries are ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this time. Mr. Dallimore has shared photographs of the stolen cards in the hope that they may be recognized if the thieves attempt to sell them. He noted that because the cards are professionally graded with certification numbers, it should be evident if they are put up for sale.