Smash-and-grab thieves steal $15,000 in Pokemon cards from Bay Area store in 39 seconds

Three suspects dressed in black broke into The Card Lab, a specialty trading card store in Brentwood, California, on Saturday night and executed a smash-and-grab robbery in 39 seconds, stealing approximately $15,000 worth of Pokemon trading cards. Surveillance footage shows the thieves hopping over the counter, smashing through a glass display case, and filling large plastic garbage bags with boxes of highly sought-after cards before driving away. Store owner Ronnie Hackett confirmed the incident occurred while the manager was on a different floor completing end-of-day procedures, and expressed relief that no employee was in danger. The store subsequently closed for several days to enhance security measures before reopening. The suspects remain at large, and law enforcement is seeking public assistance in identifying them, with license plate readers being used to track the dark-colored SUV used as the getaway vehicle. This incident follows a similar robbery days earlier at Big Pack Hobby Shop in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, where three thieves stole an estimated $40,000-$50,000 in Pokemon cards in one minute and 13 seconds.