Nearly $1 Million in Cards Reportedly Stolen Near PSA Facility
Dealers and collectors are reacting with shock after nearly $1 million in trading cards were stolen from a FedEx truck parked outside PSA headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif. According to police, around 250 packages containing sports and Pokémon cards were taken on Oct. 13, The Athletic reported.
The stolen packages included cards that had already been graded by PSA and were being shipped back to their owners. Police said PSA estimated the value of the missing cards at approximately $963,000.
How the Theft Reportedly Happened
Santa Ana police said the packages were stolen after the FedEx driver left the truck unattended near PSA’s shipping and receiving facility. The truck was reportedly left for between 60 and 90 minutes, according to reporting from The Athletic and Sports Collectors Daily.
The theft has drawn widespread attention across the hobby because of both the volume of packages involved and the fact that the cards were already in the return shipment process after grading.
For more collecting context, read Jim McIlvaine Reflects on Cards, Jerseys and Collecting.
Collectors Responds and PSA Takes Action
Collectors, PSA’s parent company, said in a statement on its website that it was aware of the theft involving a third-party shipping vehicle carrying PSA-graded items.
“We are working closely with law enforcement and the carrier as the investigation continues,” the company said.
Collectors also said PSA deactivated the certification numbers tied to the stolen items and notified marketplace partners to watch for the cards. That step is intended to make the items easier to identify if they surface for sale.
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The company said affected customers have been contacted and that compensation is being arranged based on “fair market value” up to the maximum insured value for each item selected by the customer before grading.
PSA also emailed impacted customers and said it would review its processes and procedures to determine whether any changes or additional education for shipping partners could help prevent similar incidents in the future.
Impact Felt Across the Hobby
News of the theft spread quickly on social media over the weekend and triggered a wave of concern from collectors, dealers, and hobbyists. The scale of the loss, along with the mix of sports and Pokémon cards, made the incident especially notable within the trading card community.
One dealer identified as a victim of the theft is SKY-B Cards, which said it lost more than $100,000 in graded cards. The incident has also prompted collectors to share information online in an effort to help identify stolen cards if they appear in the marketplace.
What Collectors Should Watch For
Because PSA has deactivated the certification numbers for the stolen items, buyers and sellers should be alert to any cards that may match the missing shipments. Marketplace partners have already been notified, but the hobby’s broad online marketplace means vigilance remains important.
The case also comes amid broader concerns about theft and security in the card hobby, where high-value inventory can move through shipping networks, card shops, and shows. For collectors, the PSA incident is another reminder of how quickly valuable cards can become targets once they leave a secure environment.
Police and company officials have not released additional public details about the investigation beyond the reported theft, the estimated value of the missing cards, and the steps being taken to notify customers and marketplace partners.
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