Pokémon, or the more familiar name "Pokémon" or earlier "Pokemon", for countless people, is not only a childhood memory, but also a cultural phenomenon.
Since its birth in Japan in 1996, Pokémon has quickly conquered millions of fans around the world with its unique charm.
Whether it is the "garlic toad" wonderful frog seed, or the iron Han Jenny turtle, or a generation of cute god Eevee, and the eternal "leather god" Pikachu, they are all classic characters who have grown up with a generation.
The classic cartoon opening song "The Target is Pokémon Master" also echoes in countless people's childhood memories.
But I didn't expect that as we grew up, Pokémon gradually became hard currency, and the price rose, and some could sell for tens of thousands of euros, so the theft of Pokémon was repeated, and the fantastic Pokémon world was overshadowed.
A few months ago, a collector in Ill Villene, France, lost a lot of money when 200,000 Pokémon cards were stolen!
In June 2023, a collector living in the Rennes region (Yelle-Villenes) was attacked and beaten in the middle of the night at his home, where more than 200,000 cards were stolen, totaling more than 400 kilograms!
Thankfully, thanks to DNA traces found on the torn garbage bag fragments found near the victim's home, the police investigation has progressed.
(The French police also have times to solve crimes!)
The three men were arrested in January and will be tried in February, but sadly, the whereabouts of the 200,000 cards are unknown, and now only 500 remain!
On Chinese New Year's Eve, a Belgian store was also robbed of thousands of Pokémon, estimated at more than 200,000 euros, and the owner Bruynen was very sad and offered a reward of 10,000 euros, saying: "This is my life's work for the past ten years." I was really sad and I cried. ”
These robbers specifically selected the most prized cards and goods. According to Bruynen's description, they entered the store with large bags and made a beeline for the most expensive and unique cards. Not only did the robbers use Wi-Fi jammers, but they also communicated through headsets, indicating that their actions were well planned.
Bruynen even suspects that the robbers may have visited his shop to investigate.
Pokémon cards are extremely valuable among collectors and fans, especially some rare cards.
This original Charizard card (Shadowless holographic Charizard) is probably the most valuable of the Pokémon cards. In October 2020, American rapper Logic auctioned a first-edition Charizard card for about $220,000, and the transaction price was later refreshed to $360,000 (228w yuan).
In February 2021, another Charizard card from the first generation was sold at auction for a whopping €418,000. These cards are worth a lot of money in part because of their rarity and collection history. In addition, platforms on the internet such as Pokeprix provide fans with tools to evaluate the value of cards, making Pokémon card trading more active.
Obediently, I didn't expect that the character cards in cartoons and games when I was a child could be worth so much!
Naturally, as the value of the card rises, it also brings security risks.
And in 22, a game card store in Lake Forest, Minnesota, USA, Punch Out Gaming (a ten-year-old video game and card store) was also stolen, and the thieves only stole the "Pokémon" cards in the store (all card pack inventory and second-hand trading cards), and the boss counted the loss of at least $250,000, and said that the thief was quite knowledgeable and knew what cards were worth!
These cases have exposed the dark side of the Pokémon card market: high-value and extremely lightweight cards attract the attention of criminals.
If you think about it carefully, it is indeed true, a thin card is often worth more than a dozen or even millions of yuan, which is much more convenient than directly robbing a bank, and it is not easy to carry millions of banknotes!
The experience of Bruynen and the other victims is not just about material damage. For them, these cards are a love for Pokémon culture and an attachment to collecting. Bruynen describes the incident as "the destruction of the work of his life", showing the depth of his emotions about the loss.
Pokémon is more than just a game or card set, it's become an important part of global culture. From the first games, cards, to animations, movies, Pokémon have influenced the childhood of generations. It is not just a form of entertainment, but also a bond of shared memories and emotions among people.
Bruynen's shop and his collection are a tribute to this cultural history!
As the value of Pokémon cards continues to rise, collectors need to pay more attention to security and protection measures!
Whether it's the earliest Pokemon, the later Pokémon, or finally the official name Pokémon, these have transcended their meaning as games or animations and become cultural symbols.
The world of Pokémon, just like the protagonist's hometown, Shinshin, implies the purest white and unpolluted pure land.
I hope that the criminals will be brought back as soon as possible and the cute Pokémon will be returned to others!