A vendor at Mulvey Market in Winnipeg's South Osborne neighbourhood says thieves made off with about $70,000 worth of Pokémon merchandise late Friday, stripping shelves of sealed product, booster boxes and high-value single cards.
The owner, Kenan Hyseni, said he was hosting a trade night — an event commonly held when new Pokémon sets are released — and believes someone remained behind after the crowd left. Security footage shared with CBC News appears to show a person wearing a black hood leaving through a back door carrying a large blue bag.
"There's a lot of things that go through your mind, but mostly it's just the disappointment and the disrespect," Hyseni said. "For this to happen to us or anyone else within the community is absolutely heartbreaking."
Hyseni said his landlord later called to say the building's alarm had been tripped and that someone had been observed on camera leaving the scene with the blue bag. When he returned to the market, he found the display emptied.
What was taken
Items reported stolen include sealed product, booster boxes, specialty collection boxes and single cards described by Hyseni as being "worth lots of money." He told reporters he had several high-value boxes in stock — some worth between $4,000 and $5,000 each — and said he had "three or four" such boxes. He also estimated he had about 15 booster boxes among the inventory taken.
| Item | Details (as reported) |
|---|---|
| High-value boxes | Several, some worth $4,000–$5,000 each; "three or four" on hand |
| Booster boxes | About 15 booster boxes taken |
| Specialty collection boxes & singles | Sealed collections and single cards described as high value |
Impact on a small business and the collector community
Hyseni said the loss is not only financial but also personal: Mulvey Market is a community hub where collectors gather to trade, buy and share their interests. Trade nights draw regulars who come specifically to swap cards and buy new product as sets are released.
Beyond the immediate monetary loss, the theft threatens the viability of a small vendor who relies on in-person events and market traffic. Hyseni told CBC he will struggle to recoup costs if the stolen product is not recovered.
Police and next steps
Winnipeg police were notified and are investigating. Hyseni and the market are asking anyone with information, or anyone who may have been offered suspicious Pokémon product for sale, to come forward.
- Check local online marketplaces and classified listings for unusual sealed product being sold below market value.
- If you attended the trade night and noticed anyone lingering after the event, contact police with details.
- Vendors with security footage from nearby businesses are being asked to review it and share anything suspicious with investigators.
Community members who recognise the description of the merchandise or who were in the area that night said they were disturbed by the brazen theft. Vendors who work the market and collectors who attend trade nights expressed sympathy and concern about the incident.
Hyseni said the empty shelves behind him tell the story in a way words cannot, and he asked for assistance from fellow collectors and the wider public to help locate the stolen goods or lead investigators to those responsible.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Winnipeg police. The market and its vendors also urged caution when purchasing sealed or rare trading-card product and recommended verifying provenance and receipts when possible.
The theft underscores broader tensions for small businesses that depend on in-person events and shows how targeted criminal activity can ripple through niche collecting communities across the city.
