Florida man uses chainsaw to steal $12,000 in Pokémon cards

A 33-year-old Florida man, Clayton Warren, has been arrested after allegedly stealing $12,000 worth of Pokémon cards from a local store. The bizarre incident involved an unusual break-in method, with Warren reportedly using a chainsaw to cut through the shop’s hurricane-resistant windows.

The break-in

The incident took place on May 21, 2026, at Collection Realm, a trading card store in Lake Park, Florida. Warren was charged with burglary and theft of goods valued at more than $10,000 but less than $20,000. The store owner contacted the sheriff after security footage showed a man attempting to break in.

The evidence

The surveillance footage shows Warren first trying to break in by smashing a window with a rock. When that failed, he allegedly switched to a chainsaw and cut his way inside. After the break-in, he reportedly made off with around $12,000 in Pokémon cards, including special editions and bonuses. Blood was also left at the scene, likely caused by the chainsaw.

Legal consequences

Warren has been charged with burglary of an unoccupied building and grand theft. The value of the stolen goods falls into the category of more than $10,000, which strengthens the prosecution’s case. He was also fairly easy to identify, as the security cameras captured his car’s license plate.

This incident is not just an isolated case, but part of a broader pattern of burglaries and thefts targeting the lucrative Pokémon card market. In addition to Warren, there have recently been multiple reports of major trading card thefts, highlighting a worrying trend for collectors and retailers in the industry.

The Pokémon TCG community has seen an increase in such crimes in recent years, with other major incidents involving large quantities of cards being stolen, such as in Manhattan where $100,000 worth of stock was taken during an armed robbery. These events draw attention to the popularity of Pokémon cards and the risks collectors face.

The legal handling of Warren’s case will be closely watched by both the local community and the wider collector community, who are often connected by their passion for the Pokémon trading card game.