A routine shipment of PSA graded cards turned into a massive heist for the hobby.
The FBI and the Santa Ana Police Department are investigating the theft of 6,451 PSA graded cards from a FedEx truck in California. Furthermore, The New York Times reports that the total value of the stolen collection exceeds $963,000. For more coverage on high-profile card market news, you can check our latest collectibles reports.
What Happened to the PSA Graded Cards?
The theft occurred on October 13 after a scheduled pickup from PSA’s Santa Ana facility. PSA confirmed the ongoing investigation in a public statement.
“Recovering every stolen item and returning it to the owner is our top priority,” the company stated. In addition, PSA has provided investigators with surveillance video, shipping manifests, and item-level records.
According to a breakdown by TheGamer, the stolen cargo includes:
- Pokémon TCG: 2,978 cards (nearly half of the haul)
- One Piece Card Game: 898 cards
- Basketball cards: 880 cards
- Baseball cards: 640 cards
- Football cards: 433 cards
- Other collectibles: 622 items
Tracking the Stolen PSA Graded Cards
Each slab carries a unique certification number, which makes liquidation very difficult. Therefore, PSA took immediate steps to stop the resale of these items.
First, the company deactivated all 6,451 certification numbers in its database. When someone scans the QR code on these slabs, the system flags them as stolen.
Next, PSA shared the complete blacklist with major auction houses, marketplace sellers, and online platforms. Consequently, thieves cannot easily liquidate these slabs through legitimate channels.
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Customer Reimbursements and Claims
PSA has refunded all grading fees for the affected orders. Most importantly, these refunds are separate from the compensation for the cards themselves. The reimbursement options depend on the shipping method:
- PSA Return Labels: Transit insurance automatically covers these orders, and payouts have already started.
- Customer-Provided Labels: Collectors will work directly with a dedicated PSA team to resolve their claims.
- Dealer Submissions: Collectors who submitted through card shops or third-party dealers should contact their dealer directly.
Compensation reflects fair market value, up to the maximum declared value of each item. In addition, if authorities recover the items later, owners can choose to return the payout to get their cards back.
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A Growing Wave of Collectibles Theft
High-value card thefts have increased significantly in recent months. For example, Cheshire police arrested two brothers in July after a break-in at Celestial Collectables, where they stole £62,000 worth of Pokémon cards.
However, stealing thousands of slabs directly from a carrier vehicle marks a major escalation in criminal planning.
Anyone with helpful information should contact the FBI Los Angeles Field Office or visit the Santa Ana Police Department directly.