FBI joins PSA heist probe as full list of 6,451 stolen cards goes public

The FBI has joined the hunt for the graded cards stolen from a FedEx truck outside PSA’s Santa Ana headquarters, and PSA has now published the full haul: 6,451 cards on a 93-page list, from a 1st Edition Charizard to a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth.

As we first reported, the theft happened on Tuesday, Oct. 13, when a FedEx truck loaded with outgoing PSA returns was left unattended in the 1600 block of E. St. Andrew Place. At that point, Santa Ana police had confirmed the theft and estimated the loss at about $963,000, with no arrests.

A week later, the picture is both clearer and bigger.

The FBI is now on the case

The Santa Ana Police Department and the FBI are both investigating. In a statement, PSA said it has handed investigators video footage, shipment manifests and item-level records, briefed them in person at its facility, and stays in daily contact with them.

PSA also published a tip line. Anyone with information should call the FBI Los Angeles field office at 310-477-6565, press 1 during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and ask for the duty agent about the PSA theft. Be ready to give your name, contact details and what you know about the stolen items. An agent will follow up.

PSA publishes every cert number

PSA released the full list as a PDF, with each card’s PSA cert number and, for numbered cards, its serial number. The company said it wanted to stop speculation on social media and get the hobby helping to find the cards.

PSA has deactivated the cert number of every stolen slab and shared the list with marketplaces, auction houses and online sellers, who are watching for the cards. A deactivated cert means the grade won’t come up in PSA’s cert lookup, so a thief can’t easily sell a slab as-is.

The list leans heavily toward Pokémon and sports cards. Notable entries include:

• 1999 Pokémon 1st Edition Holo Charizard (#4), plus 1st Edition Venusaur and Blastoise
• 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth (#144)
• 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski (#34)
• 2026 Topps Silver Pack 1991 Chrome All-Stars Shohei Ohtani Superfractor 1/1
• 2005 Shonen Jump’s One Piece CCG Promo PR007, The Invincible Swordsman tournament-winner card
• A 2026 Magic: The Gathering Hobbit Smaug the Magnificent Headliner, Gleaming Gold
• Dozens of autographed cards, including Michael Jordan, Cooper Flagg and Aaron Judge

ICv2 noted that the Ruth and Nagurski could be among the most valuable cards in the lot and could reach six figures in high PSA grades.

How this compares to the first estimate

The first police estimate of roughly $963,000 came before anyone had a full count. PSA’s list is the first official tally, and it puts the number at 6,451 cards.

PSA has not released a new total dollar figure, and SI’s report gives none. ICv2 notes that because the certs are deactivated, the cards’ real market value can’t be confirmed beyond what owners declared for insurance. Given the Ruth, the Nagurski, a 1st Edition Charizard and a modern Ohtani 1/1 on the list, collectors are questioning whether the original figure was too low. For now, no updated official value exists.

Why it matters

More than 6,000 graded cards disappeared on their way home to collectors, from a single truck parked outside the hobby’s biggest grader. Publishing every cert number turns the whole community into a lookout. It also means any of these slabs that shows up for sale is a red flag.

PSA says it is refunding all grading fees on affected orders and will not make customers wait for the investigation to end before paying compensation. Compensation is a story of its own, and we cover it in our next update.

By the numbers

• 6,451: graded cards on PSA’s stolen list
• 93: pages in the published list
• ~$963,000: initial loss estimate from the first reports
• Oct. 13: date of the theft
• 310-477-6565: FBI Los Angeles tip line (press 1, ask for the duty agent)

What collectors should do

• Check the cert before you buy. Run any PSA slab through PSA’s cert verification. A deactivated or missing cert on a high-end card is a reason to walk away.
• Search the list. If a card you’re buying matches a card on PSA’s list, compare the cert and serial number against the PDF.
• Be wary of freshly cracked cards. With certs dead, thieves may pull cards from their slabs. Raw high-end cards with unclear history deserve extra questions.
• Report sightings. If you spot a listed card for sale, call the FBI tip line and flag it to the marketplace.
• Affected submitters should get in touch. Contact PSA directly, or your dealer if you submitted through one, to start the compensation process.

Sources: ICv2 (Oct. 26, 2026); Sports Illustrated Collectibles (Oct. 24, 2026)

Featured image: Photo: FedEx truck, Chicago, IL.JPG by Wesha the Leopard (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons