Santa Ana, Calif. – Police are investigating the theft of trading cards valued at a minimum of $963,000 that were stolen from a FedEx truck. The incident occurred on Oct. 13 near Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), a company that authenticates and grades trading cards, autographs, and other memorabilia.
The stolen items included Pokémon and sports cards. The truck was broken into while the driver was away, and two pallets were removed, with a third pallet disturbed. The Santa Ana Police Department spokesperson Natalie Garcia stated that the exact duration the driver was absent is part of the ongoing investigation. The estimated value of the stolen cards was $963,000 at the time of the incident, though Garcia noted that the final value is still being determined.
PSA's parent company, Collectors, has taken steps to mitigate the impact of the theft. They have deactivated the certificates for the stolen cards and informed marketplace partners to be vigilant for the missing items. The company also stated it has contacted affected customers directly to arrange compensation based on fair market value. Both Collectors and FedEx are cooperating with law enforcement.
Collectors acknowledged the significance of the loss for collectors, stating, "We understand the impact this has on collectors involved, many of whom see these cards as far more than a financial asset." The company reiterated its commitment to supporting affected customers and working with law enforcement to hold those responsible accountable.
Some individuals who identified themselves as affected customers reported receiving emails from PSA detailing the incident. Card collector Nick Andrews, who was not personally impacted, noted that he had heard from numerous collectors who expressed concern about recovering their items or receiving adequate compensation. Andrews suggested that the total value of the stolen cards could potentially be much higher than the initial estimate, with some reporting losses upwards of half a million dollars in declared value.