Richard Jovahn Nunes, 24, has been arrested in Taunton, Massachusetts, for his alleged involvement in a high-profile smash-and-grab theft of rare Pokémon cards. The incident occurred at 1st Edition Collectible on July 8, when a suspect, later identified as Nunes, broke into the store through a shattered front door, extracting a number of high-value items into a backpack before fleeing the scene in under 30 seconds. Surveillance footage obtained by local media captures the suspect as wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a mask, with the entire theft lasting only a few minutes. The police department confirmed that the stolen cards were valued at approximately $113,000, with one of the most prized items being a 1999 Charizard 1st Edition, worth a reported $12,232.
The investigation began when officers responded to a break-in at the store, and the theft was swiftly traced to a lead involving a potential sale of a valuable Booster Box. Detective Nicole Rodriguez, who led the case, received a tip about an individual attempting to sell a Base Set Unlimited Green Wings Booster Box, valued at $30,000, which matched an item stolen during the burglary. This crucial tip enabled the police to track down Nunes, who had also attempted to sell another stolen item in a different location. The search of the apartment where Nunes had been staying led to the discovery of a shoebox containing several serialized and graded Pokémon cards, identified as matching the stolen collection. These findings solidified the link between Nunes and the crime and led to his arrest.
Nunes was taken into custody on Monday and charged with six counts of receiving stolen property over $1,200. Police Chief Jason Thody expressed gratitude towards the Taunton Police Department and Detective Rodriguez for their efforts in resolving the case successfully. In an effort to combat crime and raise awareness, 1st Edition Collectibles also shared a thank-you post acknowledging the police and other local collectible stores for their help in the investigation, while also announcing that proceeds from sales of their “Comeback Collection T-shirts” will be donated to charity. The store’s post emphasized the message that “Crime Doesn’t Pay and Karma is Real.”
Meanwhile, similar incidents have been reported in other states, including Florida, where a masked suspect broke into a trading card shop and stole nearly $30,000 worth of Pokémon cards in a 75-second smash-and-grab. These incidents highlight a growing trend of high-value thefts targeting collectible card shops, raising questions about the security of such businesses. In light of these events, it becomes increasingly clear that enhanced security measures may be necessary to protect these types of stores and prevent further losses.