Two 8th-Graders Arrested in Theft of 171 Pokemon Cards

After the suspects in the burglary ring were arrested and read their rights, they finally confessed. Sheriff’s deputies then searched their homes and found the stolen property: 171 Pokemon cards.

The suspects, two eighth-graders at Dodson Middle School in Rancho Palos Verdes, now face felony charges of burglary and receiving stolen property, said Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Beringer. They also have been suspended from school.

This story of theft, betrayal and criminal confession began last week with an alert witness and two furtive suspects.

“A janitor spotted two students running from the locker room after school,” Beringer said. “He knew who they were.”

Their behavior appeared suspicious to the janitor, but, at the time he said nothing, authorities said. Then, on Monday, several students complained that their backpacks had been rifled and their Pokemon cards pilfered.

The janitor reported to school authorities what he had seen the previous week, and the two students were called to the administration office. The vice principal contacted the Sheriff’s Department to report what he called a “burglary ring.”

Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene and questioned the boys, ages 12 and 13.

“Deputies obtained confessions,” Beringer said. “The students admitted that they and a third student stole Pokemon cards and some other items. . . . But the Pokemon cards were the focus of the thefts.”

The Pokemon craze swept the United States last year, when a Japanese TV cartoon and video game evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry. Pokemon’s 151 characters created a natural market for a series of trading cards.

After the two boys confessed, said Deputy Brenda Parker, “they were remorseful. They seemed to regret what they’d done.”

The students were detained at the sheriff’s Lomita station. Their parents then gave deputies permission to search their homes.

Deputies recovered 148 stolen Pokemon cards at the home of the 12-year-old. They found 23 Pokemon cards at the home of the 13-year-old. The total value of the stolen Pokemon cards is $165, authorities said.

A third student, who deputies believe was a member of the theft ring, is under investigation.