Store manager confronts suspect in sting to recover Magic cards worth $16,000

Cellphone video obtained by KIRO 7 shows a Bremerton store manager confronting and running after a suspected thief in a sting to recover nearly $16,000 worth of Magic: The Gathering cards from Discordia Games.

Surveillance video from the store showed two people who worked together to steal a stack of more than 50 costly Magic cards at the end of August, according to police.

Discordia Games manager Jason Rouse said he immediately called police, warned other local game shops that the suspects may come trying to sell the cards and then worked with investigators to set up a sting.

"They're targeted because they're easy, quick cash," said Rouse.

Rouse said Game Wizard and Blue Sky Hobbies let him know that someone had phoned them and were on their way to try to sell a few Magic cards.

"The manager and one of their employees set the trap and said, ‘yes come on down,'" said Rouse, who waited in the store's basement before confronting the suspects.

Bremerton police said they caught one of the suspects, who then confessed. They said the woman flipped on her accomplice and agreed to cooperate with investigators by texting the other man who got away.

"She told him, ‘all is clear, come get me,'" said Rouse. "He showed up and they caught him."

Police say the second suspect also admitted to stealing the Magic cards. Investigators recovered and returned the remaining stolen cards that were hidden in a bush.

"It definitely felt like an action movie at some point," said Rouse.

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