A 45-year-old man has been charged over the alleged theft of over $10,000 worth of Pokémon trading cards from a vending machine in East Maitland, highlighting an emerging and unusual legal trend where collectibles are becoming prime targets for larceny.
The incident occurred around 9:00pm on Monday, 30 June 2025, at a shopping centre on Molly Morgan Drive, East Maitland. According to NSW Police, a substantial quantity of high-value Pokémon cards were stolen from a specialist vending machine, a fixture that has become increasingly common in suburban shopping centres to service Australia's booming collectibles market.
Arrest and Charges
Following an investigation by officers from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District, a 45-year-old man was arrested on 20 August 2025 in the carpark of a licensed venue in Maitland.
He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with:
- Larceny – Value greater than $5000 and less than or equal to $15,000, under Section 117 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
He was refused police bail but later granted conditional bail in Bail Division Court 2 on 21 August 2025, pending a future appearance at Maitland Local Court on 27 August 2025.
Understanding the Offence: Larceny in NSW
In New South Wales, larceny refers to the unlawful taking and carrying away of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it.
To prove larceny, the prosecution must establish beyond reasonable doubt that:
- The accused took and carried away property;
- That property belonged to someone else;
- The taking was without the owner's consent;
- The taking was done dishonestly; and
- The accused intended to permanently deprive the owner of the property.
The penalty for larceny depends on the value of the stolen items. For property valued between $5,000 and $15,000, the offence can attract a maximum penalty of 2 years' imprisonment if dealt with summarily.
The Legal Grey Area of Collectible Crime
While larceny charges are common, what makes this case particularly interesting is the nature of the stolen goods: trading cards. Once dismissed as mere children's items, Pokémon cards have undergone a meteoric rise in value and now occupy a complex space between personal collectibles and high-yield investment assets.
This has given rise to several unique legal considerations:
- Valuation Disputes: The market value of collectible cards can be volatile, subjective, and often disputed in court. Does the replacement cost reflect eBay listings, appraisal value, or retail price?
- Intangible Property Claims: Rare cards with digital counterparts (like serialised versions) blur the line between physical property and intellectual property, further complicating theft claims.
- Targeted Crimes: The rise in collectibles crime suggests growing awareness among offenders of how easy such items are to conceal, sell online, and profit from with little traceability.
What Happens Next?
The accused is due to reappear at Maitland Local Court on 27 August 2025. If convicted, the man could face imprisonment, a good behaviour bond, or court-ordered restitution depending on factors such as:
- Prior criminal history
- The circumstances of the offence
- Whether any of the stolen items were recovered
- The commercial impact on the vending business
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