$100K Pokémon Card Heist in New Bedford Leads to Arrest

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — While fans of Pokémon know you’ve gotta catch ‘em all, the New Bedford Police were only interested in catching whoever stole a number of high-value Pokémon cards from a collectible shop in the city.

Break-In at 1st Edition Collectibles

On July 8, police responded to a breaking and entering at 1st Edition Collectibles on Purchase Street, with the suspect allegedly making off with multiple high-value Pokémon cards and collectible merchandise valued at over $100,000. The incident took place sometime after 2:30 a.m.

New Bedford Police then shared video to the department Facebook page, asking the public for assistance in identifying the thief and for any information about the potential sale of the merchandise.

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Tips and Surveillance Lead to Breakthrough

According to police, Detective Nicole Rodriguez received a possible lead on Monday, July 21.

“The tip came after an individual attempted to sell a Base Set Unlimited Green Wings Booster Box, valued at $30,000 – an item that matched the description of merchandise stolen during the burglary,” police said.

“Later that day, Det. Rodriguez was contacted by a location in Taunton, who reported a separate attempt by the same individual to sell additional Pokémon cards,” police said. “Based on the rarity and value of the booster boxes involved, detectives determined that it was highly unlikely the same person would possess both without being connected to the original theft.”

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That led to the arrest of Richard Jovahn Nunes, 24, of New Bedford as the alleged thief, with the assistance of Taunton Police. He is charged with six counts of receiving stolen property over $1,200. At the time of his arrest, he also had an active felony warrant out of Taunton District Court, police said.

The investigation then led detectives to an apartment in Dartmouth where Nunes had been staying, and where a search turned up a shoebox “containing serialized and graded Pokémon cards matching those stolen from 1st Edition Collectibles.”

Rare Pokémon Cards Stolen in the Heist

Items recovered include:

• 1999 Charizard 1st Edition (Grade 8.5) – Valued at $12,232
• 2006 EX Charizard #100 (Grades 9 - Beckett and PSA) – Valued at $10,600 each
• 2003 Skyridge Charizard (Grade 8.5) – Valued at $7,131
• 1999 Base 1st Edition Blastoise (Grade 7.5) – Valued at $2,000
• 1999 Charizard Holo Shadowless (Grade 9) – Valued at $5,535

“I appreciate the support of the Taunton Police Department in helping bring this case to a successful resolution,” New Bedford Police Chief Jason Thody said. “I also want to thank Detective Nicole Rodriguez for her solid investigative work and persistence in following up on leads that ultimately led to an arrest and the recovery of stolen property.”

Police said the case remains under investigation.

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