In an unusual crime that seems ripped from a movie script, a man from Florida is accused of using a chainsaw to break into a collectibles store and make off with a hefty haul of Pokémon cards valued at $12,000.
The man in question, Clayton Warren, now faces charges of burglary and grand theft, as confirmed by officials in Palm Beach County. After spending a day in the county jail, Warren was released on a $20,000 bail.
Despite the serious allegations, Warren has entered a plea of not guilty, according to court documents. Attempts to reach his attorney for comment by media outlet Oxygen went unanswered.
The bizarre burglary prompted police involvement on May 21, when the owner of Collection Realm, a Lake Park store known for its figures and trading cards, reported the crime. The store owner discovered the break-in after realizing his business had been targeted overnight.
Investigators believe the suspect cut a triangle-shaped hole through the shop’s hurricane-proof glass. Notably, the glass bore a large smear of what appeared to be blood, leaving behind an eerie clue to the crime. The thief’s main target? A collection of Pokémon cards with an estimated worth of $12,000.
When the owner showed police surveillance footage, it allegedly depicted a man, later identified as Warren, outside the store, repeatedly throwing a large rock at the glass, per the affidavit. After he was unable to successfully enter the store, he left and returned with a battery-powered chain saw.
The footage allegedly showed Warren cutting a hole in the window before successfully gaining entry through it and using his bare hands to push the cut glass into the store. He then disappeared and resurfaced wearing black gloves, then used what investigators described as a “hammer-like object” to hit the glass several times before climbing inside the store.
Warren then allegedly filled two bags with bulk cards worth approximately $100 to $1,500, per the affidavit, plus individually sleeved cards worth $10 to $1,000. He then exited the store by climbing back through the hole.
It turned out that Warren was a previous customer of Collection Realm, allegedly spending more than $433 on a purchase in May, according to the affidavit—and while wearing the same outfit seen in the burglary video.
In addition to the value of the stolen merchandise, the owner told police that damage to his store totaled approximately $1,500.
The owner did not immediately return a request for comment from Oxygen.