Burglars tracked through South Yorkshire after £10,000 Pokémon card raid
Suspected burglars were tracked through South Yorkshire after stealing more than £10,000 worth of Pokémon cards during a break-in at a Nottinghamshire business.
Police say the offenders travelled through South Yorkshire after targeting a storage warehouse on Aurillac Way in Retford, shortly after 1am on Saturday, December 27.
Officers were alerted when the warehouse’s alarm system was activated.
On arrival, they discovered that thieves had cut through fencing and removed bricks from an external wall to gain entry to the premises, where high-value collectible cards were stored.
CCTV footage later identified a van linked to the burglary travelling on cloned number plates.
The vehicle was tracked as it made its way into South Yorkshire before continuing on towards Manchester.
The van was eventually intercepted in a storage yard in Greater Manchester, where two men were caught red-handed unloading boxes containing the stolen Pokémon cards.
Officers also recovered a number of tools from inside the vehicle, including a sledgehammer.
Two men, aged 24 and 26, both from Leeds, were arrested on suspicion of burglary.
Police say enquiries are continuing to locate any further offenders connected to the crime.
Detective Sergeant Andrea Brown, who is leading the investigation, praised the joint work between forces that helped recover the stolen goods within hours.
She said: “In a few hours of the burglary occurring, we have not only arrested two suspects but secured the stolen goods.
"Burglary has a detrimental impact on businesses and residents. It is not only the financial loss but the emotional distress this crime causes.
"That’s why we will do everything we can to track down those responsible as this result clearly shows."