Almost $1 million in rare sports and Pokémon cards stolen from FedEx truck in Santa Ana

Almost $1 million in rare sports and Pokémon cards were stolen from a FedEx truck in Santa Ana, California, according to the Santa Ana Police Department. The theft occurred when a FedEx driver left his vehicle unattended for approximately an hour to 90 minutes near the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) grading center. During this time, thieves broke into the truck, stole two pallets containing around 100 packages each, and took part of a third pallet. The total estimated value of the stolen items is approximately $963,000, with additional value still being assessed. The cards had been sent from across the United States to PSA for grading, a process essential for collectors seeking to authenticate their possessions. Once graded, the items were scheduled to be returned to their respective owners. The stolen items include both sports and Pokémon cards, some of which are considered unique or one-of-a-kind. According to police, the truck was parked near PSA's shipping and receiving address at 1610 E. St. Andrew Place. The lock was broken during the theft, allowing the perpetrators to access the packages. As of now, no arrests have been made, and none of the stolen goods have been recovered. PSA has taken several steps to mitigate the impact of the theft. It has deactivated the certificates associated with the stolen items and alerted marketplace partners to watch for these rare and serialized items. Additionally, PSA has reached out directly to affected customers and is arranging compensation based on fair market value. A letter sent to affected card owners outlined these efforts, including deactivating serial numbers, assisting with investigations, and implementing preventive measures to avoid future incidents. Nick Andrews, known on social media as the Boston Card Hunter, has tracked more than 1,000 items reportedly stolen in the incident. He noted that one individual had suffered a loss of $500,000 worth of cards. Sky-B, a card trader, stated that 104 of his cards, collected over two years, are missing. These cards had been certified by PSA and were on their way back to him in Michigan when the theft was discovered. Sky-B mentioned that he spent $8,000 on grading fees and that the cards were insured up to $156,000, though their actual market value was higher. Darren Rovell, a longtime sports business reporter and avid trading card collector, highlighted the risks associated with shipping valuable collectibles. He pointed out that shipping labels and declared insurance values can expose the contents of such shipments, making them vulnerable to theft. The mere presence of names like PSA or Collectors on an address label can signal potential targets for thieves. FedEx emphasized the importance of resolving the theft and confirmed it is cooperating fully with local law enforcement. The Santa Ana Police Department has classified the case as ongoing, with no arrests or recoveries yet.