NYC Local News: Pokemon Thief Nearly 10 Grand in Cards?

Suspect Steals Baseball and Pokémon Cards After Skirting Declined Credit Card Transaction

By Dan Gesslein 

Manhattan Voice  

November 12, 2025 

NYC LOCAL NEWS - Cops are looking for a man who made off with nearly $10,000 in Pokemon and baseball cards. 

At around 11:40 a.m., an unidentified individual walked into the store at 244 Lafayette Street with the intent to make a purchase using a credit card. When the card was declined, the suspect didn’t give up. Instead, he began entering manual commands into the store’s payment terminal, likely trying to bypass the transaction issue without the employee noticing. Somehow, the attempt worked, and the individual managed to walk away with a large haul, including baseball and Pokémon cards worth nearly $9,710. After grabbing the goods, the suspect fled on foot, heading southbound on Lafayette Street. 

The NYPD released surveillance video from inside the store. The suspect is described as a male with a medium complexion. He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, a black hooded sweatshirt, black shorts, white socks, and white sneakers. He was also seen carrying a multicolored bag.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on X @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.