FBI Investigating Theft of Over 6,000 PSA-Graded Trading Cards

The FBI and Santa Ana police are currently investigating a major theft involving over 6,400 PSA-graded trading cards. According to reporting from Eurogamer, the items were taken from a FedEx truck on October 13th shortly after being picked up from the company’s Santa Ana, California, facility.

The scope of the loss

PSA has confirmed that 6,451 items were stolen in the incident. A breakdown of the inventory, reported by TheGamer, indicates that 2,978 of the cards are Pokémon-related. The remaining items include 898 One Piece cards, 880 basketball cards, 640 baseball cards, and 433 football cards. The New York Times reports that the total value of the stolen collection exceeds $963,000.

To prevent the cards from being sold on the secondary market, PSA has deactivated the certification numbers for all affected items and provided a comprehensive list to auction houses, marketplaces, and digital commerce platforms. The company stated that recovering these items is their top priority and that they have provided investigators with shipment manifests, item-level records, and security footage.

Compensation and next steps

PSA has already refunded grading fees for all impacted orders. For the cards themselves, the company is managing compensation based on fair market value, up to the declared maximum insured value for each item. Customers who utilized a PSA return label are covered by company insurance, with payments already in progress. Those who used their own labels are working with a dedicated PSA team, while individuals who purchased cards through a dealer are advised to contact them directly. If any of the stolen property is recovered, owners retain the option to reclaim their items.

Why it matters

For collectors, this incident serves as a significant warning regarding the logistics of high-value card shipments. Because PSA has deactivated the stolen certification numbers, these cards are effectively flagged, making them incredibly difficult for thieves to liquidate through reputable channels. If you are browsing marketplaces and encounter a deal that seems too good to be true, you should be aware that these specific cards are currently tied to an active federal investigation.

Anyone with information regarding the theft is encouraged to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles office or the Santa Ana Police Department.