A trading card collector is seeking public help to recover a bag containing his personal collection stolen during a Bishan event on October 9.
The collector lodged a police report after the theft.
The incident happened at about 4:30 p.m. during the CAPS Card Show at Junction 8 shopping mall, according to WWC One Media. A man and a woman allegedly took his unattended sling bag while he negotiated a trade with a vendor.
Video footage captures the alleged theft
The Instagram account “looking.for.stolenbag” shared footage of the disappearance.
The collector created this account one month after the incident. He uses it to share surveillance-style footage and information about the missing collection. He said the collection contained valuable trading cards. In the video, the victim identifies himself as “the boy in blue shirt, holding onto (his) sling bag,” AsiaOne reported.
The footage shows the collector placing his bag on the floor to help a transaction.
A couple was seen browsing the display during this time. The woman had red hair and a Doraemon-themed backpack. The man carried several bags. The pair appeared to notice the unattended bag and pointed it out to each other.
The couple allegedly moved the bag when the collector left the booth. They placed it with their own belongings and left the area.
Totoro keychain helps identify the bag
A white Totoro keychain is attached to the sling bag. The collector said this detail helps distinguish the property. AsiaOne reported that the keychain remains visible in the footage as the couple exits the frame.
The collector’s appeal for information has gained traction online. Some viewers expressed sympathy for the collector. But other viewers criticized him for leaving the bag unattended in a crowded space. The collector is seeking information to identify the couple and recover the collection.
High value of trading cards in Singapore
The CAPS Card Show is Singapore’s premier event for trading card games and collectibles. This theft follows other recent crime reports in Singapore. These reports involve the theft of cash, personal items, and expensive goods. WWC One Media previously reported on a separate incident in Yishun. In that case, a man allegedly stole a staff member’s phone from a durian stall during daylight hours.
Collectibles hold high value in the region. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officers discovered 105 One Piece trading cards in a 31-year-old Singaporean’s luggage at Changi Airport in November.
The traveler declared only two cards. The collection was estimated to be worth about S$400,000. Officials referred that matter to Singapore Customs for investigation.
The collector hopes someone will recognize the couple. He wants to return the collection before the cards are lost permanently.