Vancouver police apprehended three teenagers who reportedly employed bear spray in a Pokémon card theft this week. The victim arranged to meet the suspects near East King Edward Avenue and Ontario Street around 8 p.m. on Tuesday through Facebook Marketplace to sell two cards valued at $7,000 each.
Instead of proceeding with the transaction, the suspects allegedly used bear spray on the victim before fleeing in a vehicle with the cards. Authorities managed to track down the suspects in Burnaby but were only able to recover one of the stolen cards.
The surge in the popularity of Pokémon cards, especially rare ones that can be worth thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, has attracted thieves looking to profit from this easily transportable commodity. As a result, stores in the Lower Mainland have heightened security measures due to a recent string of costly break-ins related to Pokémon cards.
In response to the escalating thefts, Vancouver police utilized a sting operation last month to apprehend an alleged card thief. The latest incident involving bear spray underscores the importance of conducting transactions in public settings, such as the VPD Safe Exchange Location outside the Vancouver Police Department headquarters at 2120 Cambie St.
Two 15-year-old boys and one 16-year-old boy are facing potential charges in connection with the bear spray incident. The suspects have been released from custody with specific conditions.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale for individuals engaging in buying or selling transactions to prioritize safety and conduct exchanges in secure public locations.