Why Pokemon Cards May Get You In Serious Trouble On Chicago’s Southwest Side

Something in Chicago is dangerous, go figure.

Remember the announcement earlier this year that a 'Pokemon Fossil Museum' is coming to Chicago? Minds were lost and people flooded the Field Museum it will be at in May to get tickets now.

Pokemon cards seem to have seen a massive uptick in popularity in recent months, like selling for 6 figures popularity. And of course, we shan't forget Pokemon GO from 10 years ago now (yes, we're old) that had people wandering around neighborhoods and parking lots like a cult.

And now, the most valuable Pokemon card out there is a 1998 Pikachu (the Japanese Illustrator version) but there are 3 Charizards on the list of the top 10 most valuable Pokemon cards this year.

A lot of us remember trading Pokemon cards as kids (I went for the cute ones, not gonna lie). But now, they could be a bit dangerous around Chicago.

Chicago's Southside & Pokemons

A warning from Chicago Police a few weeks ago called out several armed robbery calls on South Kedzie in the Gage Park neighborhood. One victim is sharing what happened with it.

An 18-year-old kid calling himself "Gabe-ee" went to the neighborhood to sell some Pokemon cards, intending to get his first car with the money. So he and his mom went to meet someone they were in contact with through Facebook Marketplace.

"Gabe-ee" said it went town like this:

He said he was in a wheelchair. Once we got there, he wasn’t in a wheelchair. I went ahead and gave him two of my cards...Outta nowhere he pulled down his hoodie, and pulled a gun on me. I went ahead and gave him the cards. Me and my mom backed up.

He says the suspect was probably in his 20's-30's, with glasses, a black mustache, and a beard. Once "Gabe-ee" and his mom felt safe, they called police, but he's still out $1,500 and his cards. That robbery was one of at least 4 reported recently in the area over Pokemon cards.

If you do still have your binder of Pokemon cards, make sure you take it to a safe card resell store. Probably don't agree to meet someone from social media.