Over $963,000 in Graded Pokémon and Sports Cards Stolen from FedEx Truck
Professional Sports Authenticator says the loss could rise as it confirms which cards were taken and deactivates certification numbers for cards identified as stolen
By AXY Tech Desk ·
Key points
- Over 200 packages of graded trading cards were stolen last week from a FedEx truck parked outside PSA's Santa Ana, California, headquarters.
- PSA told police the majority of the stolen packages had an approximate value of over $963,000, and the figure could rise as the count is confirmed.
- PSA has deactivated certification numbers for cards identified as stolen and has notified marketplace partners to watch for them.
- Compensation is based on fair market value, capped at the maximum insured value each customer selected before grading.
- Collectors are compiling a shared list of stolen serialized cards to help others identify them.
Over 200 packages of graded trading cards were stolen last week from a FedEx truck parked outside the Santa Ana, California, headquarters of Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), according to a report by The Athletic. PSA told the Santa Ana Police Department that the majority of the stolen packages had an approximate value of over $963,000, a figure the company says could rise as it confirms exactly which cards were in the shipment. The packages were being shipped back to their owners when they disappeared, which means the cards had already been graded and were on their way to collectors who had paid for the service.
The theft has drawn attention across the trading card hobby because it involves items that are both valuable and easy to identify. The Verge, which reported the story on October 20, 2026, described the incident as one of the most significant losses of graded collectibles in recent memory, though the available reporting does not establish a precedent or a ranking. What is clear from the reporting is that the losses fall on individual collectors, some of whom had insured their shipments, and that the company and its parent are now working to contain the damage to the market.
What Was Taken and Why the Value Could Rise
According to The Athletic's report, more than 200 packages were in the truck when it was taken. The truck was parked outside PSA's headquarters in Santa Ana, a city in Orange County, southern California. The packages contained graded trading cards that were being sent back to their owners, which means PSA had completed its work on them and they were ready to be returned.
The $963,000 figure is an approximate value for the majority of the stolen packages, not a final total. PSA is still working through the process of confirming exactly which cards were included in the shipment. Because that count is incomplete, the reported value could increase as more items are verified. For readers, the key distinction is between a preliminary estimate and a confirmed loss. The company has not yet published a final inventory, and the reporting does not say how many individual cards are included in the total.
The mix of items also matters. The source material refers to graded Pokémon cards and sports cards, two of the largest segments of the collectibles market. Pokémon trading cards have a large following among collectors and investors, and sports cards have a long history as collectibles, with prices for individual items sometimes reaching into the thousands or more. When cards from both categories are grouped together in a single shipment, the total value can rise quickly, even if many individual items are modest in price.
How Grading Works and Why It Raises Value
To understand why these packages were so valuable, it helps to know what grading means. In the trading card market, grading is a service in which a company examines a card, assesses its physical condition, assigns it a numerical or descriptive grade, and encases it in a rigid, sealed holder. The holder is typically labeled with the grade and a unique certification number. Collectors pay for grading because buyers often trust a professionally graded card more than an ungraded one, and a high grade can substantially increase a card's resale price.
PSA is one of the largest third-party grading companies in the sports and hobby card market, according to The Verge's report. Being a third-party company means it is independent of the people who own or sell the cards. Collectors send their cards to PSA, and the company returns them with the grade and certification information, which is then used by buyers, sellers and auction houses.
This system has a direct consequence for theft. A graded card that is sealed and labeled is easier to identify than a loose card, because its certification number ties it to a specific record. At the same time, a graded card can carry a much higher value than an ungraded card of the same design, so a single package can contain items worth thousands of dollars. The reporting does not provide a breakdown of grades or individual values, so it is not possible to say which cards made up the largest share of the loss.
Victims Describe Losses and Insurance Choices
Among the collectors who have spoken publicly is the YouTuber known as Sky-B Cards, who said in a video posted over the weekend that they were one of the victims. According to the report, they had paid $8,468 to have 104 collectible sports cards graded by PSA. The cards were described as many of them irreplaceable. The collector had chosen to insure the order for up to $156,000. The Verge reported that it is not yet known what compensation Sky-B Cards has received.
The case illustrates a practical issue for collectors who ship valuable items. When a customer sends cards to a grading company, the customer can select an insured value for the shipment. That choice affects how much could be recovered if the package is lost or stolen. In this case, the reported compensation policy depends on the insured value selected, which means customers who chose different coverage levels may have different outcomes.
Other affected collectors have begun contacting another YouTuber, Boston Card Hunter. That creator is working to compile a shared list of the serialized cards that were stolen. The list will include detailed descriptions of each card, with the aim of helping other collectors identify them if they appear in the market. Serialized cards are items with individual identifying features, such as numbering or certification details, that make each piece traceable. Shared lists of this kind can give owners, dealers and buyers a common reference point, though the reporting does not say whether the list is official or how it will be verified.
How PSA and Its Parent Company Are Responding
Collectors Holdings, the parent company of PSA, acknowledged the theft in a statement shared on its website. The company said it is working closely with local law enforcement and FedEx as the investigation continues. The statement and the reporting do not identify any suspects or describe the investigation's current stage.
In response to the incident, the company said it has notified marketplace partners so they can be on the lookout for rare and serialized items. The stated purpose is to help prevent the stolen cards from being resold. Marketplace partners are the online platforms, dealers and other businesses through which graded cards are often bought and sold, so an alert of this kind could help them flag suspicious listings.
Collectors Holdings also said it has contacted affected customers to arrange compensation based on the fair market value of their missing collectibles. According to The Athletic's report, as quoted by The Verge, that compensation is capped at the maximum insured value for each item selected by the customer before grading. The reporting does not say how quickly payments will be made or how disputes over values will be resolved.
Why Deactivated Certification Numbers Matter
All cards graded by PSA are assigned a unique certification number. According to the report, the company has deactivated the numbers for all cards that have so far been identified as stolen. The certification number is the reference that links a physical card to its grade and its record in the company's system. When buyers check a card, they often use that number to confirm its grade and authenticity.
Deactivating a number means that a card carrying it should not be treated as a valid, recorded certification. The following points are AXY analysis rather than reported findings. For a legitimate buyer, a deactivated number could be a warning sign that a card may be stolen, and it may make a stolen card harder to sell through reputable channels. Whether this will substantially reduce the resale value of the stolen cards will depend on how many sellers and buyers check the numbers, and on whether the cards are altered, resubmitted or sold privately.
The measure also highlights a broader challenge. Graded cards are sometimes sold in private transactions, at events or through informal networks where verification may be less consistent. Analysts who follow collectibles markets would typically expect thieves to face obstacles selling identifiable items at full value, but the actual outcome will depend on how widely the alerts are shared and how carefully buyers check.
What Happens Next
Several questions remain open. The most immediate is how large the final loss will be. The $963,000 figure is described as approximate, and PSA is still confirming which cards were in the shipment. A final count would show how many individual cards were taken, which is important for both victims and the wider market.
Another question is how quickly affected customers will be compensated, and how the company will handle cases where the fair market value of a card is disputed. Because compensation is tied to the insured value that each customer selected, the outcome may vary from one collector to another. The reporting notes that it is not yet known what compensation Sky-B Cards has received, which suggests that payments may still be in progress for some victims.
The investigation is also ongoing. Readers should watch for updates from the Santa Ana Police Department, statements from Collectors Holdings and FedEx, and any reports of stolen cards appearing on resale platforms. Shared lists compiled by collectors may become an important reference if cards are recovered or identified in the market. For now, the case shows how valuable collectibles can be vulnerable while they are in transit, and how much depends on the records that identify each item. Whether the company's alerts, deactivated certification numbers and compensation plan are enough to limit lasting losses will become clearer as the investigation and the count proceed.
Questions and answers
What was stolen from the FedEx truck?
Over 200 packages of graded trading cards were stolen from a FedEx truck parked outside PSA's headquarters in Santa Ana, California, according to The Athletic's report. The packages were being shipped back to their owners.
How much were the stolen cards worth?
PSA told the Santa Ana Police Department that the majority of the stolen packages had an approximate value of over $963,000. The company said that figure could increase as it confirms which cards were taken.
Will affected collectors be compensated?
Collectors Holdings says it has contacted affected customers to arrange compensation based on fair market value, up to the maximum insured value each customer selected before grading. The reporting says it is not yet known what compensation some victims have received.
Why did PSA deactivate certification numbers?
PSA has deactivated the unique certification numbers for all cards identified so far as stolen. The company has also notified marketplace partners so they can look out for rare and serialized items and help prevent resale.
Topics: Professional Sports Authenticator, PSA, Pokémon cards, Sports cards, Santa Ana Police Department, Card grading, Collectors Holdings
Sources: The Verge