Why collectors grade their cards

Collectors send cards to authenticators to find out their worth. A graded card sealed in plastic with a high grade can sell for many times what it did raw.

The theft on October thirteenth

On October thirteenth, thieves broke into a FedEx truck outside Professional Sports Authenticator's office in Santa Ana, California, and drove off with nearly one million dollars in Pokémon and sports cards.

What police found and valued

The Santa Ana Police Department said about two pallets of cards were stolen from the truck and a third was disturbed. The estimated value of the stolen cards was nine hundred sixty three thousand dollars.

“The estimated value of the stolen cards at the time of the incident was $963,000.”

Why now: Pokémon cards surged

Pokémon cards have risen three thousand two hundred sixty one percent in value over twenty years, more than any other card category. The timing was good for thieves targeting high-value inventory.

One collector's loss: SKY-B Cards

YouTuber SKY-B Cards, with one hundred forty eight thousand subscribers, lost one hundred four cards accumulated over two years. He said many were irreplaceable and he would never see them again.

“There are many irreplaceable cards in here that I will never see again.”

What SKY-B had insured

SKY-B handed his cards to PSA at the National Card Show in late July. Every card was insured at up to fifteen hundred dollars, and the whole order at up to one hundred fifty six…

Cards worth more than declared value

PSA's estimates put several of SKY-B's cards above fifteen hundred dollars, including a Tyrese Maxey valued just under two thousand dollars.

PSA and FedEx respond

PSA said it would pay collectors based on fair market value up to the maximum insured value and return grading fees.