Nearly $1 Million in Rare Sports and Pokémon Cards Stolen from FedEx Truck in Santa Ana

Major Trading Card Theft Hits Santa Ana

Authorities in Santa Ana are investigating the theft of trading cards worth nearly $1 million from a FedEx truck parked close to the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) grading center. The incident took place a week ago, and as of October 20, 2026, no arrests have been made or goods recovered, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

Details of the Theft and Stolen Items

The cards, comprised mainly of sports cards and pokemon cards, were being returned to owners across the country after undergoing psa grading—a pivotal process for card authentication and valuation. Two entire pallets, each containing about 100 packages, were stolen, with a combined value reported at approximately $963,000. About 50 packages from a third pallet were also taken, with their value yet to be fully determined.

The theft occurred while the FedEx truck driver was away from the vehicle for an estimated hour to 90 minutes. During that time, the truck’s lock was breached and the packages were removed.

PSA Response and Protective Measures

PSA has responded by deactivating the certificates associated with the rare trading cards, seeking to prevent their circulation in major marketplaces. "We have deactivated the certificates for the stolen items and notified marketplace partners so they can be on the lookout for rare and serialized items," PSA stated. The company has also contacted affected customers directly and is arranging compensation based on fair market value, though some collectors report that their card insurance does not fully cover the losses.

PSA sent a letter to affected card owners outlining its response steps, including:

• Deactivating serial numbers associated with the stolen items (packet deactivation).
• Alerting commerce partners across digital, auction, and other selling platforms.
• Assisting FedEx and law enforcement in the ongoing card theft investigation.
• Reviewing the incident to help prevent future occurrences.

Impact on Collectors and Community Response

The collectible cards impacted were sent from owners across the United States for grading at PSA, including some categorized as one-of-one pieces. Nick Andrews, known online as the Boston Card Hunter, has tracked more than 1,000 cards reported stolen as of Tuesday morning. One customer reportedly lost cards valued at $500,000.

Card trader Sky-B, who lost 104 cards he collected over two years, stated that even though his shipment carried insurance up to $156,000, that amount was less than the true market value of the cards. "There were cards in that order that you can’t replace," Sky-B said in a video response.

Risks of Shipping High-Value Cards and Ongoing Investigation

Longtime collector and sports business reporter Darren Rovell commented on social media about the vulnerabilities involved in shipping valuable collectibles. He noted that shipment labels, declared insurance values, and even the use of names like PSA or Collectors on packages can increase the risk of theft.

The Santa Ana Police Department continues to investigate the high-value theft, coordinating with FedEx and PSA. As the case remains open, affected collectors and dealers watch closely for recovery of the stolen rare trading cards and await resolution or compensation from insurers and grading companies.

Source: latimes.com.