Trading Card Store Thefts Surge Across Australia: Melbourne and Canberra Hit in 2025
"The thefts have an impact on the broader hobbyist community."
— Store owner Trent Clarke
A series of brazen thefts targeting trading card stores has been reported across Australia, with incidents in both Melbourne and Canberra occurring in 2025. Law enforcement and store owners have noted a sharp rise in such crimes, driven by the soaring market value of rare collectible cards.
Melbourne Incident: Hughesdale Hobby Shop Burgled
In April 2025, a hobby shop in Hughesdale, a suburb of Melbourne, was burgled. According to the shop's owner, Alex Balykov, the perpetrator entered by shattering a window. A laptop and a number of Pokemon cards were stolen from a broken glass shelf.
Mr. Balykov reported that the suspect fled on a motorbike without license plates and that more valuable cards within reach were not taken.
Data from the Crime Statistics Agency indicates that the number of reported trading card-related crimes in Victoria rose from 9 incidents in 2021 to 50 in 2025. Police have attributed this increase to the high value of rare cards.
In response to the trend, some shop owners have implemented additional security measures, including locking away high-value stock and sharing information through a group chat. Ten incidents have been reported within this group in the two months preceding the Hughesdale burglary.
Store owner Trent Clarke stated that the thefts have an impact on the broader hobbyist community. EB Games, a retail chain, confirmed that incidents are concerning but stated its focus remains on safety.
Following the Hughesdale burglary, members of the hobbyist community contributed to a fund to cover the cost of Mr. Balykov's broken window.
Canberra Incident: $150,000 Stolen from The Collectors Colosseum
Separately, a Canberra trading card store, The Collectors Colosseum, reported a significant theft. The store, located on the Australian National University campus, was burgled overnight. Owner Ben Pye estimated the value of stolen products at approximately $150,000.
Police were dispatched to the location around 2:30 AM after the store's alarm was triggered. Mr. Pye stated that he monitored the event remotely via security cameras. He noted that the individual initially struggled to gain entry but succeeded during a subsequent attempt before law enforcement arrived.
Mr. Pye reported that the stolen inventory included an estimated 60 to 100 graded cards and a number of single cards. Graded cards are those that have been professionally authenticated and assessed for condition. Pokemon cards represent a significant portion of the store's stock.
"The stolen cards feature unique serial numbers and have recently increased in market value."
— Store owner Ben Pye
The owner stated that the stolen cards feature unique serial numbers and have recently increased in market value. He has distributed these serial numbers within the collector community. According to Mr. Pye, community input has provided initial leads regarding potential suspects.
A Growing Trend
The rise in trading card thefts mirrors the explosive growth of the collectibles market, where rare Pokemon, sports, and gaming cards can sell for thousands—or even tens of thousands—of dollars. Store owners are now banding together, sharing intelligence, and upgrading security to protect their inventories from increasingly bold thieves.