Nearly $1 million worth of sports, Pokémon and other collectible trading cards were stolen from a FedEx truck in Santa Ana, California. The truck was parked outside a card authentication facility when the theft occurred.
The incident took place Oct. 13, when a truck carrying packages from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), a major trading card authentication and grading company, was targeted. The truck was transporting the cards back to their owners when the theft occurred. According to investigators, the stolen cards were valued at approximately $963,000.
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The thieves broke the truck’s lock while the driver was away for an hour. Two pallets containing around 200 packages were stolen, while a third pallet was found disturbed. Among the stolen cards were a 1995 Upper Deck 23K Gold Michael Jordan card and a 2024 One Piece Simplified Chinese 1st Anniversary Set Nami card.
Among those affected was a YouTuber known as Sky-B Cards. He said his shipment contained 104 sports cards that he had collected over two years. He had spent more than $8,000 on grading fees alone and insured the shipment for up to $156,000.
“These were 104 cards that I’ve accumulated over two years. There are many irreplaceable cards in here that I will never see again. And, honestly, that’s what hurts the most — outside of obviously being absolutely financially destroyed here,” he said.
Professionally graded cards often sell for more than ungraded ones because authentication companies assess their condition and verify their authenticity. Rare editions, limited releases and cards featuring well-known athletes can fetch thousands of dollars, making them attractive targets for theft.
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Collector Holdings, PSA’s parent company, said it is working with law enforcement and FedEx to investigate the incident. The company also said it has deactivated the certification numbers of identified stolen cards and notified marketplace partners to watch for the missing items. These measures could make it harder to sell the affected cards through legitimate channels.
The company said it had contacted affected customers and would arrange compensation based on the fair market value of the missing cards, subject to the maximum insured value selected by each customer.
“We understand the impact this has on collectors involved, many of whom see these cards as far more than a financial asset. Our team is focused on supporting them. We take this incident seriously, and we will continue working with law enforcement to hold those responsible accountable,” the company added.