A Metro Vancouver Pokémon card collector says he tracked down thousands of dollars worth of stolen cards after spotting them for sale online using the same photos from his original Facebook Marketplace listing. Emilio Kihien says the ordeal began when he arranged to sell three valuable Pokémon cards on the social media platform. According to Kihien, a prospective buyer came to his Coquitlam home to complete the transaction, handed him $4,000 in counterfeit cash and ran off with the cards. “I put the cards in his hand,” said Kihien. “As soon as they’re in his hand, he just starts running.” Kihien says he was injured after attempting to stop the suspects by clinging to their vehicle as it drove away. “I called the cops, I let them know what happened, they kind of let me know we can’t really do that much.” Just days later, Kihien said friends alerted him to a new online listing. The cards that had allegedly been stolen were back up for sale. Kihien says the sellers were even using the same photos from his original advertisement. “I’m just thinking, you know what, these guys can’t be the most intelligent of people,” said Kihien. Believing he had found the people in possession of the cards, Kihien said he and his friends created a ploy to arrange another meetup, this time at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby on Aug. 13. Using video-recording sunglasses, Kihien and his friends confronted the men and held them at the scene until police arrived. “The mission was: Hold these guys down until the cops get here and get my cards back,” said Kihien, adding he wanted to resolve the conflict without violence. Burnaby RCMP said two people were initially arrested, including one adult and one youth, and that the investigation remains ongoing. “It was a bit of mayhem going on for our officers to figure out what actually happened,” said Cpl. Michael Kalanj with Burnaby RCMP. Kalanj is also warning the public against taking matters into their own hands. “Vigilantism can only cause problems because no one knows who has weapons,” said Kalanj. “Even as the victim, if you show up and you harm someone now you’re looking at charges as well.” Kihien told CTV News he felt he had no other choice. “(The police) really didn’t seem like they were going to help me that much,” said Kihien. “I mean, one of the officers literally said if it was me I would probably try and set them up myself.” Kihien ultimately got his cards back, although the protective case had been damaged. He said he is sharing his story as a reminder for people to use caution when buying or selling items online and to consider meeting at a designated safe exchange location, including police stations. “I had no issues with the Pokémon community before this, no issues with Marketplace meet-ups—but you really never know.”
