Target pulls Pokémon and sports trading cards off its shelves
BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS58) -- U.S Target stores are temporarily pulling all sports trading cards and Pokémon cards from its shelves as of Friday, May 14. This comes after a man was attacked following an argument over trading cards at a Milwaukee-area Target store last week. For the first time CBS 58 is hearing the 911 calls as it all went down.
“We’re at Target on Bluemound, there’s a fight, they’re like kicking the [expletive] out of this guy," the first 911 caller said.
“There was a fight in the parking lot and the guy has a gun," the second 911 caller said.
Brookfield police responded to the Target on Bluemound Road in Brookfield a little after 8 a.m. on Friday, May 7. Police say a 35-year-old man was assaulted by four other men in the parking lot. The fight started after an argument over sports trading cards bought at the store. Police say the victim pulled out a gun and pointed it at the men. The four men took off.
“The officers now have them in handcuffs," another 911 caller said.
“I think this was going to be a matter of time this was going to happen, you have a lot of people who are lining up sometimes three, four hours to buy boxes of cards and people are slipping the line," said Jeff Price, owner of Price's Collectibles in Greendale.
According to Sports Collectors Daily, U.S. sales of trading cards grew 142% from 2019 to 2020.
“Sports cards within the last year have become fine arts for millennials," Price said.
Card collectors say people can get a cheaper deal at Target and then make a profit online.
“I can go to Target or one of the stores right now, buy a retail box for $20 and go and flip it right away for $150," Chris Borkenhagan said. He works at Waukesha Sportscards.
Donte Phillips has collected sports cards since he was a kid. He understands the urge but doesn’t condone violence.
“I hate to see violence, especially something as simple as trading cards or collectible cards. This is just going to be push more people online," said Phllips.
All four men were taken into custody. Brookfield police say they are now waiting for the district attorney to issue charges.