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Within the store, owner Phillip Dang showcased an array of prized cards to the duo, eventually unveiling a sealed Van Gogh Pikachu card valued at $1,500.
“Their questions were oddly suspicious, not something a genuine collector would typically ask,” commented Dang.
As one of the men attempted to divert Dang’s attention, the other reportedly snatched the card from under his nose, briefly dropping it before both suspects bolted for the exit.
“I couldn’t believe it; I thought, am I really being robbed right now?” Dang recalled.
Dang, along with several employees, gave chase. Dang managed to tackle one suspect to the ground, holding him until law enforcement arrived on the scene.
“He was just begging me to let him go. He was just saying ‘please, I’ll never do it again’,” Dang said.
The second man managed to flee, police allege.
Police seized a knife from the first man but do not believe it was used during the alleged theft.
“We looked and we saw a machete in his pocket, it had a leather cover over it,” Dang said.
“I was staring at it like, that could have gone right through me.”
The 23-year-old Tarneit man was charged with theft from a shop and possessing a controlled weapon.
He was bailed to appear before Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on July 30.
Despite scouring the area, police couldn’t find the second ma.
They are working to identify him.
The rare Pikachu card remains outstanding.
“In retrospect, I kind of made a mistake with the card I picked to try and bait them out. It was a pretty expensive card,” Dang said.
While Dang valued the card at $1500, another identical card is currently sitting at $5000 as part of an online auction.
The store owner says his shop is just the latest to be targeted for the valuable collector’s items.
He’s been forced to bolster the store’s security to protect his staff.
“They didn’t come here to be threatened or potentially witness a theft, have to chase someone down, that’s not their job, it’s not my bloody job but I’ll do it,” he said.
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