$40,000 Pokemon card thief foiled by two MMA fighters

Pokémon Cards remain big business, even long after the excesses of 2020’s price spikes. Just last week A British collection sold for £55,270 ($69,404), more than double the auction guide price. So you see the incentive for a Florida man who tried to steal $40,000 worth of money from a Miami store, only to be pinned to the ground by some MMA trainers.

The Week in Games: Pocket Monsters and Simulated Goats

33-year-old Jasiel Manfarrol was at the Miami-Dade TCG store Pro Play Games

where he asked if he could take a look at a folder Pokémon Maps, reports NBCMiami (above Dexerto). But instead of checking out the collection of rare entrees, he grabbed the item (and another one it was tied to) and ran to the door, turning to laugh at the shop owner, AnaMilena Machado, as he exited the store. Thick.

However, in perfect “Florida Man…” style, the story takes a strange turn. Disappointingly, he wasn’t attacked by an alligator, but it’s close. Machado followed him out of the store, loudly demanding her property back while other passersby tried to intervene. At this point, Manfarrol pulled out a pair of pliers and gestured as if he was… removing people’s loose nails? It is unclear. Accordingly NBCMiamiIn the arrest report, Manfarrol is quoted as saying “I’m going to stab you” in Spanish.

At that point, two MMA trainers from a nearby gym pulled their car in front of Manfarrol, jumped out and pinned him to the ground.

“My friend jumped out of the car, cut him off, and we sat on him and defeated him with our Ju-Jitsu,” said trainer Dominic Galiana NBC.

The recording was caught on a surveillance camera, making Manfarrol’s plea of ”not guilty” of aggravated theft and aggravated assault a fairly bold decision.

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According to Manfarrol, he was paid to steal the folders, which the store owner estimated to be worth between $30,000 and $40,000. The store itself looks great and if you are in the area you should check it out.