Store Staff Recovers $45,000 Binder in Failed Grab-and-Go Attempt
A clerk at a Bellevue game shop wrestled a binder of Magic: The Gathering cards from a suspect who returned after an initial visit during a Saturday evening event.
By Samir Doyle ·
Staff at Middle Tennessee Gaming in Bellevue prevented the loss of roughly $45,000 in merchandise during a failed robbery attempt on Saturday evening. The incident occurred while the shop hosted a gaming event for regular customers. The store owner confirmed that the binder of Magic: The Gathering cards was successfully recovered by an employee.
Owner Jeff Podis stated that the suspect entered the store around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Podis described the individual as a young man who did not appear to know much about trading cards. Podis spoke with the visitor before he initially left the premises. A few minutes later, the man returned to the counter area.
The suspect attempted to grab a full binder of cards from the counter. One of the store’s employees intervened and wrestled the binder from the man’s hands. The suspect fled the location without the merchandise. Podis valued the seized binder at approximately $45,000.
Podis identified this incident as the fourth theft or attempted theft at the location in the last three months. In October, a man left the store with several items without paying. In July, the store lost $6,000 when a customer used a stolen credit card to purchase two high-value cards. Podis noted that the primary method used by thieves is a snatch-and-grab approach.
Metro Police reported that investigators are currently working on at least two open theft and fraud cases involving Middle Tennessee Gaming. The department has also been active in other local incidents. A few weeks ago, officers arrested a man in Nashville accused of stealing more than $30,000 in cards from a game shop in Donelson.
Podis described the threat to game stores as a nationwide issue. Last month, a group in California stole nearly $1 million in rare Pokemon and other trading cards from an unattended FedEx truck. Podis said that financial losses are substantial, but the demoralizing effect on the community is also a major factor. He emphasized that the trading card community is inclusive and that outsiders often exploit that openness.
Podis plans to implement security changes at the store in the future. He stated that being a welcoming community remains more important to him than doubting the intentions of new customers. The store continues to operate while police investigate the recent incidents.
