Teens used bear spray in Pokémon card robbery, say Vancouver police

Vancouver police say they arrested a trio of teenagers who allegedly used bear spray during a Pokémon card robbery this week.

The victim met with the suspects near East King Edward Avenue and Ontario Street around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, according to police, after arranging over Facebook Marketplace to sell two cards worth $7,000 each.

Instead, police say, the suspects used bear spray on the victim, then fled in a vehicle with the cards.

Vancouver police caught up with the suspects in Burnaby, but were only able to recover one of the victim’s cards.

WATCH | Surge in Lower Mainland break-ins targeting Pokémon cards:

Pokemon card thieves break into Lower Mainland shops

Police in Surrey and Abbotsford are investigating a pair of similar break and enters. The target wasn’t jewelry or cold hard cash — it was Pokemon cards. As CBC’s Jon Hernandez reports, an increase in popularity has made the cards more valuable and thieves have taken note.

While most Pokémon cards hold little value, rare cards can sometimes be worth thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In one recent example, influencer Logan Paul sold a rare Pikachu Illustrator card for $16 million US.

That has led to an uptick in thefts and robberies as thieves seek to cash in on a portable and easy-to-sell commodity.

Stores in the Lower Mainland were recently forced to boost security amid a spate of costly break-ins.

Last month, Vancouver police even turned to a sting operation to catch an alleged card thief.

WATCH | What’s behind the surge in Pokémon card thefts?:

Here’s why Pokémon card thefts are on the rise

Experts say the value of trading cards — Pokémon cards in particular — has increased significantly. CBC’s Talia Ricci breaks down how the trend has led to a sharp rise in value and more thefts.

Police are recommending charges against two 15-year-old boys and one 16-year-old boy in the Tuesday bear spray incident.

All three have been released from custody with conditions.

Investigators say the incident is a good reminder to anyone buying or selling goods to do so in a public place, including the VPD Safe Exchange Location situated outside the Vancouver Police Department headquarters at 2120 Cambie St.