Thieves steal Pokémon cards from two gaming stores

A business owner has been left "upset and angry" after both of her shops were broken into with cash and Pokémon cards among the items taken.

Police said inquiries were under way after thieves targeted The Dice Jail in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, on 25 December, and Sanctuary Gaming Centre & Coffee Shop in Sutton-in-Ashfield on 26 December.

Kate Viande, who is joint owner of both businesses - which operate as gaming cafes and toy shops - said about £3,000 was stolen from tills during the break-ins, along with a number of trading cards including Star Wars, Spider-Man and Warhammer collections.

"It's jeopardised our business and we're just trying to get along," Ms Viande said.

She added: "Why target the small businesses who are just trying to make a bit of a living and make the world better?"

It comes after two men were arrested on suspicion of burglary in nearby Retford in December - after thieves smashed through a brick wall to steal Pokémon cards worth an estimated £10,000 from a warehouse.

And, on Thursday, thousands of Pokémon cards and other collectable trading items worth about £10,000 were taken from Jakes Breaks trading card shop in Beeston in Nottinghamshire.

Cards related to the Japanese animation franchise have soared in value over recent years, with some being sold for thousands of pounds.

Ms Viande said she became aware The Dice Jail, in Queen Street, was broken into after passers-by spotted the front door was smashed on the morning of 25 December.

"Somebody smashed through the glass on the front door using a hammer and stole a lot of [Pokémon trading card] stock," she said.

"I am pretty upset, annoyed and angry. I am disappointed more than anything."

Ms Viande said the break-in happened at about 04:40 GMT.

Thieves then broke into Ms Viande's other store, in Forest Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, at about 03:45 on 26 December.

"They went to one of our side windows and threw a big metal ball through the window, disintegrating it," she said.

Ms Viande said the thieves then stole a cash drawer from the till and targeted trading cards again, including Pokémon, Star Wars, Spider-Man and Warhammer.

"We managed to actually see them in the act of doing it [on CCTV] and managed to call the police while they were in the shop," she said.

Police said officers attended two minutes after the call came in, but the thieves had left the scene.

However, the majority of the cards were recovered by officers after the suspects fled the scene and dropped them.

Other cards have also been located stashed in a nearby street, police added.

Ms Viande said the community had been supportive and a fundraiser would be launched to help fund new tills and replacement glass for the broken windows.

The 43-year-old believes the break-ins were carried out by the same people.

"They were wearing the same hoodies and looked like the same baseball cap and the same trainers," she said.

When asked if she believes her stores had been targeted, she said: "Yes, it's too much of a coincidence, in my opinion."

Nottinghamshire Police said investigations had been launched over both break-ins.

Officers are following a number of lines of inquiry and "arrest attempts are being made" in relation to the incidents, it said.

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