Pokemon collectibles generate multi‑million dollars in US thefts and Dubai sale

In the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, a wave of burglaries between June and July 2026 hit at least six specialty stores that sell Pokémon cards. Police believe two masked individuals were responsible, stealing between $3,000 and $36,000 worth of merchandise per incident, including rare cards such as a Dracaufeu valued at up to $1,000.

Separately, three first‑print copies of the original Pokémon Game Boy games (Red, Blue, Yellow) were sold for $2 million to the Dubai Collection. Graded 9.8–10 by PSA, the sale is the second‑largest graded video‑game transaction ever and was brokered by Nostalgix founder Nathan Howerton.