As noticed by Dicebreaker final week, a current assertion from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Division (IMPD) studies that round $300,000’s price of buying and selling playing cards had been stolen from Gen Con 2023 final Wednesday.
IMPD detectives are looking for the general public’s assist in figuring out two folks of curiosity presumably concerned in a theft of upwards to $300,000 price of gaming playing cards.For extra data comply with the hyperlink beneath.https://t.co/qOsvSW4Hy4 pic.twitter.com/3qZ98UcPMpAugust 4, 2023
The IMPD’s official assertion reveals extra in regards to the as-yet unidentified card thieves. “The folks of curiosity reportedly acquired a pallet jack, eliminated one pallet of gaming playing cards, and moved them to an unknown location.”
It is probably that the pair had been making the most of the pre-event rush, the place scenes of occasion employees shifting pallets are commonplace. “The alleged theft occurred earlier than the opening of occasions within the downtown space and whereas distributors had been organising their shows at numerous occasions.”
Two extra images have been posted by the IMPD, asking the general public to assist establish its potential suspects, who may be seen beneath, strolling out of Gen Con with the pallet trailing behind them.
***Replace*** two extra images have been added. Detectives are nonetheless looking for assist in figuring out each people. https://t.co/s7mMPbcR6I pic.twitter.com/nB9uVGaCT1August 5, 2023
As confirmed by Ravensburger’s official Twitter account, the upcoming Disney Lorcana card recreation is accounted for. Whereas it was a first-rate candidate for would-be card pirates—contemplating hopefuls had been queuing for so long as 14 hours to play it—it appears the heist occurred elsewhere.
The sheer estimated worth of a single pallet—one that would repay roughly eight mixed pupil money owed within the US on the time of writing—boggles the thoughts. It isn’t solely shocking, although: some ultra-rare playing cards have gone for as a lot as $2 million, and even empty packing containers of Magic: The Gathering gadgets have bought for tons of.
Whether or not the thieves can shift their stolen stock on the TCG black market is but to be seen. Shifting that a lot inventory on the world broad net is certain to be a problem, particularly now the heist’s garnered publicity—with the evocative picture of two card thieves striding confidently out of the conference centre, pallet in tow. Sadly, theft, scalping, and scamming is not precisely unusual within the TCG group at giant.
I’ve reached out to Gen Con for additional particulars on the stolen stock, and can present updates to this text because the story develops.