Acworth man arrested for stealing $10K in Pokémon in Duluth
Smash and grab for for $10K in Pokémon cards
A man faces burglary and gun charges after allegedly stealing $10,000 worth of Pokémon cards from a Duluth gaming store and attempting to resell them in Cobb County.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Looks like Team Rocket didn’t make it very far in Gwinnett County.
What we know:
Detectives with the Gwinnett County Police Department said they arrested an Acworth man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of Pokémon cards during a burglary investigation.
Police said detectives identified Oscar Reyes Montero Stewart, 33, as a possible suspect while investigating the case. According to investigators, Stewart later attempted to sell the stolen Pokémon cards to another store. During that transaction, police said he was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Cobb County.
Detectives later executed a search warrant at Stewart’s property.
Stewart is charged with second-degree burglary, second-degree criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of tools during the commission of a crime.
Co-owner James Miller said the thief made off with about $10,000 worth of merchandise. The most expensive card costs $2,000.
Courtesy of Gwinnett Police Department
What we don't know:
Miller believes the man may have been in the store before because he seemed to know exactly what he was looking for, but police have not officially detailed the suspect's history with the shop.
What they're saying:
Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle with the Gwinnett County Police Department said the suspect went to Cobb County to sell the stolen goods. Miller received a call that a man had sold half the items at another store and planned to return later with the rest. "When he came back later, they called the cops," Miller said. Cobb County officers arrested Oscar Stewart on an outstanding warrant on an unrelated charge.
Why you should care:
Rare trading cards have become major targets for thieves because they are valuable and easy to hide. Miller noted that this is the third time in three years that his store has been hit by burglars, describing the cards as a "huge target right now."
What you can do:
Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact detectives at 770-513-5300 or Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS.