> At a Glance
> – Four men arrested for stealing rare trading cards worth $100,000 from a Burbank shop
> – Break-in occurred at LA Sports Cards on December 2 at 2 a.m.
> – Stolen items include Pokémon cards, Kobe Bryant, and Cristiano Ronaldo collectibles
> – Why it matters: High-value card thefts are rising across Southern California, prompting law enforcement to investigate potential connections
Four suspects are in custody after a bold burglary at LA Sports Cards in Burbank, where thieves made off with $100,000 worth of rare trading cards and collectibles.
The Break-In
The burglary happened on December 2 around 2 a.m. when thieves forced entry through the front of the store on the 1900 block of West Olive Avenue. They ransacked the interior before fleeing with high-value items.
Burbank police reported that the stolen merchandise included:
- Pokémon trading card products
- Rare sports cards
- Other collectible merchandise
Shop owner Kit Nguyen told News Of Los Angeles in December that the thieves appeared to know exactly what they were targeting.
> “They started with the Pokémon side,” Nguyen said.
Among the stolen items were rare Kobe Bryant and Cristiano Ronaldo trading cards, though Nguyen noted that Pokémon cards remain his most popular products.
The Arrests
Detectives served search warrants at four locations on December 18 and January 8 after reviewing security camera footage that helped identify the suspects.
The four men arrested are:
- Brian Chavez, 22, of Los Angeles
- Jeremy Lopez, 22, of Los Angeles
- Marco Barrongil, 26, of North Hollywood
- Elijah Garcia, 27, of Compton
All four were arrested on suspicion of burglary.
Connection to Other Thefts
This theft is part of a concerning trend across Southern California. Similar burglaries have been reported in:
- Glendale
- West Los Angeles
- Simi Valley
Law enforcement agencies are working to determine if these card store burglaries are connected.
Key Takeaways
- Four suspects arrested after stealing $100,000 in rare cards from Burbank shop
- Break-in happened December 2, arrests followed in December and January
- Stolen items included Pokémon cards and rare athlete trading cards
- Police investigating potential links to similar thefts across the region
The arrests bring some relief to local card shop owners as police continue investigating whether organized crews are targeting collectible stores throughout Southern California.
