LAPD seeks further victims in collectible gaming card collection of thefts – NBC Los Angeles

Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department are searching for extra attainable victims in a collection of thefts they are saying occurred between January and June of this 12 months involving counterfeit money and collectible gaming playing cards. 

According to the LAPD, detectives had been in a position to determine a sample of crimes and join them to a serial theft suspect. 

The thefts occurred between January 9, 2026 and June 9, 2026 in North Hollywood and Hollywood. 

“In each incident, the suspect contacted sellers of collectable gaming cards through online peer-to-peer marketplaces and arranged to meet them to purchase items in cash. Investigators determined that the suspect would meet near ATM machines and portray that he had just withdrawn money, placing it in a bank envelope,” the LAPD stated in a press release. 

The playing cards had been stated to have been Pokemon playing cards. 

According to the LAPD, the suspected thief blended some real payments with different counterfeit payments when making the acquisition and the sellers didn’t understand the cash was faux till that they had left. 

Investigators and the Huntington Park Police Department positioned the suspected thief on June 11 throughout a visitors cease within the 2500 block of Zoe Avenue in Huntington Park. 

Investigators positioned a number of collectable playing cards together with counterfeit $100 payments, LAPD stated.

The suspect was recognized as 34-year-old Zachary Mitchell, a resident of Los Angeles.

Mitchell was booked for Grand Theft at Van Nuys Jail. The case is being offered to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for submitting consideration, LAPD stated.

Detectives urge anybody else who has not reported a theft however had been victimized by Mitchell to contact the LAPD instantly.