Trading Card Evaluation Company, Ace Grading, Reports Significant Theft

A company specializing in the evaluation of trading cards has reported the theft of thousands of rare items. Ace Grading, located in Banbury, stated that cards valued at thousands of pounds were taken from its headquarters on the evening of December 13, in what the company described as a “targeted attack.” YouTuber Randolph, who operates the company, informed the BBC that the stolen items were “valuable, but they’re also really sentimental.” Thames Valley Police confirmed they are investigating the robbery, noting that the estimated value of the stolen stock is £250,000. Ace Grading specializes in assessing the condition of trading cards, including popular ones like Pokémon, which can be valued at hundreds or thousands of pounds. Customers submit their cards to such companies for an evaluation, receiving a score out of 10. This procedure is recognized for enhancing a card’s market value and verifying its authenticity. Randolph, who has more than 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube, commented, “Having some respect for these cards is really important, their value is really underestimated.” He further stated, “To those who they’re important to, they really are so important.” He also mentioned that the “targeted attack” occurred “completely out of the blue” during a period when “business has never been better.” Ace Grading has initiated contact with customers whose cards were among those stolen, providing offers of compensation. Randolph described the “impact is massive,” noting that the company represents his “whole life right now.” He elaborated, “We’re a very specialist company, and my main goal right now is to keep the lights on.” He also acknowledged that the company has garnered “loads of support from the community.” Information regarding BBC Oxfordshire’s social media presence can be found on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.