A trading card shop owner in Nottinghamshire said he was shocked after thieves smashed into his store on New Year's Day and stole up to £10,000 worth of Pokemon, NBA and Magic: The Gathering cards
15:40, 05 Jan 2026Updated 15:55, 05 Jan 2026
This is the shocking moment thieves targeted a trading card shop, making off with £10k worth of stock - but overlooked one Pokemon card valued at £1,200. A card shop has reported a potential loss of £10,000 following a New Year's Day break-in.
Owner Chris Wilmott, 44, expressed his "shocked" upon learning that two burglars had smashed their way into Jakes Breaks trading card shop and looted it. CCTV footage reveals two men breaking through the front door shortly after 6am on Thursday (January 1), before stuffing the contents of several display cases into their backpacks.
The culprits then scarpered from the shop, dropping some of the cards in their haste - most of which have suffered irreparable water damage, according to Chris.
A black-and-white surveillance camera image depicts an indoor setting, possibly a retail establishment, where two individuals are present. One person is standing near a desk while the other is seated, engaged in what appears to be a transaction or discussion. Various office supplies and equipment are visible in the background, along with shelves stocked with books or items. The image captures the moment in a top-down perspective.
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"I just felt crying, but an angry cry"
Among the stolen items were pricey £300 Pokémon cards, £1,000 NBA card boxes and complete binders of Magic: The Gathering cards. Earlier footage shows the pair attempting to break into the shop with a bar, before returning with a paving slab to shatter the door.
Nottinghamshire Police have initiated an investigation into the incident. Chris stated: "We're estimating the loss to be between £5,000 and £10,000.
"I was just shocked and disgusted. I was driving in, and I didn't know what had happened.
An array of assorted collectible cards and related items are displayed on a table in a retail store setting. The table is covered with a variety of cards, some of which are encased in protective sleeves, suggesting a collection or sale of trading cards. In the background, there are shelves stocked with various items, indicating the presence of a commercial space.
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"Why would they target us?"
"It was one of frustration, upset and I just felt crying, but an angry cry. Why would they target us?
"An independent store. Not the best start to 2026."
Chris mentioned that they are still assessing the lost stock and determining the extent of the damage. He continued: "They dropped a lot of it but as they are cards, they are quite easily water damaged.
An adult male and a young boy are standing together, smiling, and holding a card that appears to be a collectible item, possibly a sports card. The man is wearing a white shirt with navy blue trims, while the boy is wearing a white shirt with a green design. The background is gray.
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"I was just shocked and disgusted"
"We've got some of it back but a lot of the boxes that were stolen like NBA boxes are up to £1,000, maybe more. Some of the expensive cards are the Pokémon ones that have been graded and are worth £300 for one card.
"We got some of them back that they dropped and luckily for us they didn't steal the £1,200 card that was sat on the shelf. All the good cards were at the back of the cabinet so when he pulled it forward, they all dropped to the front so they couldn't reach them.
"They also stole Magi: The Gathering cards in a big binder which are worth £3 a card. When I was going round picking up what they'd dropped there was £5 cards and £10 cards that had been damaged by the weather so that's a lot of the loss too."
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Display case with shattered glass, remnants of merchandise scattered, and festive holiday decorations partially visible on the window, with debris on the floor.
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Nottinghamshire Police have initiated an investigation into the incident
Chris has now confirmed that new shutters have been fitted and alarm upgrades are currently underway. Nottinghamshire Police have been contacted for a response.
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