CCTV footage captured the moment two brothers from Birmingham used a crowbar to break into a gaming shop and steal more than £62,000 worth of Pokémon cards. Shane Johnson, 37, and his younger brother Keith Johnson, 33, targeted Celestial Collectables in Warrington, Cheshire, on April 8.
Brazen raid caught on camera
The duo were filmed rushing to the till area, smashing display cabinets, and stuffing high-value merchandise—including trading cards, slabs, packs, and booster boxes—into a bag. The break-in lasted over four minutes and left the shop "destroyed," according to co-owner Chris Grundy, 30.
Chris said: "The break-in left me devastated. A lot of work has gone into the shop, and for someone to destroy it was heartbreaking really. It took us a while to get back on our feet afterwards. But hopefully the court result will be a deterrent to anyone else who is thinking about doing the same."
Extensive damage and stolen goods
Footage from the following day showed the entrance, wall cabinets, and counter "obliterated" with shattered glass, and cards, packs, and boxes scattered across the floor. Cheshire Police confirmed the stolen goods were primarily Pokémon cards valued at £62,000, while damage to the premises exceeded £3,000.
Investigators found the brothers used a white Ford Transit van with cloned registration plates, which had travelled from Birmingham to Warrington. The van was later located containing Pokémon cards, a box with the shop's logo, and burglary tools. CCTV also showed the getaway van broke down, forcing the brothers to push it to another van that had come from Birmingham. They transferred the loot to the second van, later found near Shane's address.
Second burglary and arrests
The siblings then targeted The Graded Gallery in Rugby, Warwickshire, on April 14, again using a crowbar to force entry and causing substantial damage while stealing items including Pokémon cards. The total merchandise stolen and damage incurred exceeded £9,000. They escaped in a Nissan X-Trail, which was later parked outside Keith's property, where both men were arrested.
A search uncovered keys to the van used in the Warrington burglary, stolen property from Celestial Collectables, and keys to the Nissan X-Trail along with goods from other commercial break-ins.
Court sentences
Both brothers pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary with intent to steal. Keith Johnson, from Yardley Wood, Birmingham, was sentenced to 29 months imprisonment at Birmingham Crown Court on July 2. Shane Johnson, of no fixed address, is due to be sentenced at the same court on July 31.
Detective Constable Hannah Smith of Cheshire Police said: "The overwhelming evidence collected through our extensive enquiries put them at both crime scenes giving them no choice but to plead guilty. The brothers will now have to pay the price for their part in their criminal Pokémon enterprise."
