How Pokmon cards became coveted by wealthy collectors and targeted by devious thieves

Never mind diamonds and cars.One of the hottest items for thieves to boost right now is Pokémon cards — and insiders say it might be the perfect crime.

“The cards are fungible and unregistered,” collector Charlie Hurlocker, who has some 10 million cards worth “millions and millions” of dollars, told The Post, adding that stolen ones are easy for thieves to unload: “You don’t need a black market.”Earlier this month, gun-wielding thugs stormed into an event at Poké Court in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, smashing display cases and grabbing $110,000 worth of cards, including a first-edition Charizard valued at some $15,000.In the past weeks, there have been similar heists in Wilmington, North Carolina, which led to a game-store employee being beaten up; Atlanta, where $100,000 worth of Pokémon cards was taken in a Christmas Eve break-in; and Gardena, California, where thieves dropped through the ceiling of a shop.In Houston, three stores were recently targeted — with thieves cutting through a wall shared with a neighboring business to get in one — and a home burglary led to a collector losing $55K in cards.“Owners of collectable stores have to treat themselves as if they’re jewelry stores,” said Goldin.

“They need to have the right security and the right protection.They have to lock up their valuables at night.”Sometimes things turn violent, like when a man was held up at gunpoint after leaving RWT Collective in Los Angeles’ Sawtelle neighborhood and relieved of a briefcase containing Pokémon cards worth $300,000.It’s no wonder Logan Paul travels with bodyguards.When the pro wrestler and social media star decided to auction off his one-of-a-kind PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator card, he knew what he needed to do before traveling to Goldin Auctions’ Runnemede, NJ, headquarters.“I just gotta bring a security team to move it with me,” Paul told auction house head Ken Goldin.“I’ve got a bunch of armed guards here,” Go...