Card Shop Victim of $40,000 Heist

Police in Chatham, Ontario  are seeking information about a burglary at a local card shop that resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars worth of sports cards, including three Wayne Gretzky rookie cards.  The loss may force the owner to sell what’s left of his business.

Sometime between Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 5:00 p.m., unknown suspect(s) forced their way into  Rockets Sports Cards on Queen Street. Approximately $40,000 worth of sports cards were stolen. Owner Mike Lucio opened the shop just 15 months ago, hoping to turn his collecting passion into a business.

He told police he thinks a bolt cutter was used to break through the padlock on the steel bars that provide extra security over a side door.  A crowbar was then used to open the door itself.

Some of the cards were graded and contain serial numbers that could help crack the case if they’re resold.

Still, it’s a depressing time for Lucio, who is trying to get word out to anyone he can in the province about what happened.

Vicky Gough has this story in the Chatham Daily News.