Mon Sep 09 15:00:15 UTC 2024: ## Trading Card Thieves Target Osaka Business in Latest Robbery
**Osaka, Japan** – In a disturbing trend, thieves are increasingly targeting businesses specializing in collectible trading cards. The latest incident occurred early Monday morning in Osaka’s Chuo Ward, where two robbers broke into an office selling trading cards.
The two workers, who had just finished a live-stream from their office near Nagahoribashi Station, were confronted by the robbers who threatened them with bladed weapons and tied them to chairs. Despite knowing valuable cards were present, the robbers appeared to lack expertise in the field, asking the workers in Kansai dialect “Which ones are da expensive ones, huh?”
The robbers ultimately escaped with over 100 cards valued at approximately 10 million yen (about US$68,000), along with the workers’ smartphones and 250,000 yen in cash. After leaving the victims bound and gagged, the workers managed to free themselves two hours later and alerted the police. The robbers, described as wearing black clothing, sunglasses, and masks, remain at large.
The targeted business, located in an office building rather than a traditional retail space, seems to primarily operate online. This may explain the lack of extensive security measures, as they did not have walk-in customers and likely did not anticipate theft.
The recent string of robberies highlights the growing threat posed to businesses dealing in collectible trading cards. Experts recommend that such businesses implement comprehensive security plans to protect their valuable inventory.
First Piper 