Dozens of Magic The Gathering Cards thought to be stolen were trafficked on eBay, and a local man is being investigated, Renton police said.
Magic The Gathering Cards are part of a card-based strategy game, and rare cards can be worth up to several thousands of dollars. They are manufactured by Wizards of the Coast, based in Renton.
Earlier this year, three brothers went to Shane’s Big League card shop in Renton trying to sell Liliana of the Veil promotional cards, which are part of the Magic game.
The cards were sent to 38 different tournaments, with 125 cards going to each tournament. There also were 422 cards sent back to a Wizards’ facility in Renton, and those were reported missing, according to police.
That was discovered after Shane’s Big League employees contacted Wizards of the Coast about the unusual sale. An employee thought it was odd for so many of the specific cards to be offered for sale by one person.
Wizards staff found some of the cards on eBay and bought one with a separate account, and got a lead on the seller.
A Wizards investigator contacted the man who admitted selling the cards after claiming he received 25 of them from a friend of a friend who he knew only as “John.” Police said the cards each were sold for $160 online.
Later the following month, after police contacted the man, he met a police sergeant and turned over 175 Liliana of the Veil cards. The case is ongoing.
"We don't comment specifically on current criminal investigations; however we are working closely with law enforcement and value their skill and commitment," Wizards spokesman Hugh McMullen said in a written statement. "We encourage fans to always buy Magic products from official retailers and trusted sources."
KIRO
