Pokémon cards stolen in £30k shop raid

Pokémon cards worth thousands of pounds have been stolen in an overnight break-in at an indoor market.

Trove UK, which runs three "collective malls" in Bournemouth and Christchurch, said trading cards and other stock worth about £30,000 had been taken from seven traders at its Winton store, shortly before 23:00 GMT on 4 March.

Display cabinets were also smashed and damaged, meaning the store was unable to open the following day.

Trove owner and founder, Mark Battistini, said: "This has devasted several small businesses as they have lost all their stock and income."

Trove's collective malls host about 250 independent stallholders and sellers.

Battistini said: "When something like this happens it literally makes us sick.

"I have been speaking to the team and none of us have slept well since this happened.

"The entire team is devastated by this and have all pulled together to try to open the gaming area as soon as possible.

"This has affected our community in a massive way — not only through the stock that was taken and the damage caused, but through the long-term impact on the small business owners who have lost everything."

Battistini said the local community had been "amazing", with some even dropping off Pokemon cards from their own collections as a show of support.

Dorset Police confirmed it received a report on Wednesday 5 March "of a break-in that had occurred the previous night at Trove in Wimborne Road, Bournemouth".

A spokesperson said: "It was reported damage had been caused and stock had been stolen.

"Enquiries into the incident are ongoing. No arrests have been made at this time."

Trove UK has appealed for anyone with information to come forward.