Four arrested as police dismantle organised alleged crime syndicate behind $50,000 Pokemon card robberies across Melbourne

Victoria Police have dismantled an organised crime syndicate which allegedly attempted to steal Pokemon cards worth thousands of dollars from multiple stores across Melbourne.

Police said on Monday that four people were arrested, alleging the group was involved in a series of burglaries at collector card stores and the theft of six cryptocurrency ATMs since mid-January.

They allegedly used stolen cars to target three collectible card stores in Epping, Moonee Ponds and Eumemmerring, stealing approximately $50,000 worth of cards.

The stolen cards included collectible card games Pokemon, Disney Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering and Dragon Ball Z as well as AFL and NBA trading cards.

In addition to trading cards and ATMs, police also seized five allegedly stolen firearms, about 100 stolen car keys, ammunition, a pill press machine, and stolen power tools.

The items were recovered after police arrested four people last week, including two alleged primary offenders — a 37-year-old man from Reservoir and a 32-year-old man from Epping.

The Reservoir man was charged with 14 counts of burglary related to commercial cryptocurrency ATMs and game stores, as well as offences including possessing a trafficable quantity of firearms as a prohibited person, possessing a firearm as a prohibited person, and handling stolen goods.

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 2.

The 32-year-old Epping man was charged with five counts of commercial burglary, three counts of motor vehicle theft, theft, unlicensed driving, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a drug of dependence, and possession of a prohibited weapon.

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 21.

Two other men, a 33-year-old and a 46-year-old, both from Reservoir, were released pending further investigation.

The series of robberies at collectibles stores has been happening across Melbourne for six months, affecting more than a dozen stores, The Age reported.

Detective Inspector Patrick Watkinson said police are confident the main offenders have been arrested.

“We are confident that we have apprehended the main offenders who were sharing their criminal trade craft with lesser offenders,” Watkinson said.

“Police have also identified the lesser offenders supplying stolen goods and more importantly the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Syndicates tasking the apprehended offenders.

“And to the organised familial crime syndicates operating across Melbourne — paying others to do your dirty work won’t keep you hidden.

“With every arrest we move one step closer to dismantling your enterprise and all those connected to it, seizing your illicit wealth and holding you accountable.

“Your luck will eventually run out.”