Four Melbourne residents have today been arrested as Victoria Police allege that over $50,000 worth of trading cards, a number of firearms, 100 stolen car keys and six cryptocurrency ATMs were stolen across Melbourne’s north west.
Some of the biggest TCG collectible stores in Melbourne had been targeted in previous months, with the stores allegedly violently robbed and trashed and significant amounts of merchandise stolen.
The collectible stores targeted were:
- Grand J Games Moonee Ponds
- Blacklist Cards – Thomastown
- Pro Gamers – Ravenhall
- Good Games – Greensborough
- Sunshine Collectables
- CardTastic – Clayton
- The Ozzie Showroom – Eumemmerring
It’s alleged that the four arrested (primary offenders residing in Resevoir and Epping) stole the below:
- Approximately $50,000 worth of collectable trading cards including Pokemon, Disney Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, Dragon Ball Z, AFL and NBA.
- Five alleged stolen firearms
- Approximately 100 alleged stolen car keys
- Ammunition
- Pill press machine
- Stolen power tools
“This was a highly organised and coordinated police operation, and we thank the vigilance of the affected trading card community and the invaluable support from industry partners – which assisted in the dismantling of a significant network of offenders.
“We are confident that we have apprehended the main offenders who were sharing their criminal trade craft with lesser offenders said North West Metro Regional Crime Squad, Detective Inspector Patrick Watkinson.
