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San Francisco Teens Arrested After Pokémon Card Robbery

The case shows how networked cameras, drones and automated license‑plate readers let police locate suspects quickly.

Overview

  • The victim met a buyer to sell a collection of Pokémon cards and was pepper‑sprayed and robbed during the meetup on May 28, authorities said.
  • Officers tracked the suspect vehicle using the city's networked surveillance system and deployed drones and plainclothes teams to detain occupants the next day.
  • A May 30 search of one suspect's home and an inspection of the vehicle yielded items seized as evidence for the investigation.
  • Two juvenile male suspects were booked into the Juvenile Justice Center on charges of second‑degree robbery and conspiracy.
  • Police and reporters say the case fits a wider rise in thefts of trading cards and collectibles and highlights risks in in‑person marketplace meetups.