Source : Perth Now news
A family visit to a Brisbane anime store allegedly became a co-ordinated theft, with CCTV appearing to show parents and children working together inside Popu Anime at Chermside.
The store said police were contacted after staff reviewed security footage that appeared to show a family of six stealing Yu-Gi-Oh! products from the speciality pop-culture retailer on September 23.
Popu Anime’s Chermside store team leader and supervisor, Ethan, alleged the family entered together before splitting up inside the shop.
While the man and a young girl approached the counter and began asking staff about One Piece trading card stock, the woman and a younger boy moved towards a display of Yu-Gi-Oh! merchandise.
One of the most shocking details of the incident was that the woman was carrying a baby.
According to Ethan, that distraction gave the pair time to take several items without paying.
He alleged the boy hid six Burst Protocol booster packs in a small crossbody bag, while the woman placed a 2025 Mega-Pack Tin and a Fire King Structure Deck in the lower section of a baby pram.
The family then left the store “immediately and casually”, he said, without trying to pay.
The alleged theft was only uncovered the next morning while carrying out a routine stock count of the trading card game products.
“I noticed discrepancies in our Yu-Gi-Oh! stock and subsequently reviewed our security camera footage, which showed what had occurred,” Ethan told NewsWire.
He said a report was lodged with police that same day.
“What makes this particular incident especially unusual and disappointing, however, is the involvement of the entire family,” Ethan said.
“The footage shows the children participating in the theft while their parents were also involved.
“Personally, I found it particularly disappointing to see parents encouraging and involving their own children in stealing from a store.
“Regardless of the value of the merchandise, I think it is concerning to see children being taught or encouraged to participate in this kind of behaviour.”
Popu Anime is a Queensland retailer focused on anime, trading cards, figures and Japanese pop-culture merchandise, with stores including Westfield Chermside, Westfield Garden City and Pacific Fair.
The Chermside shop is known among local collectors for its range of trading card products and anime collectables, making it a regular stop for younger fans as well as serious hobbyists.
Ethan said shoplifting had become an ongoing problem for the business, particularly involving trading cards and younger offenders.
“Unfortunately, shoplifting has become a recurring issue for us,” he said.
“Trading cards have also become more prone to theft due to the current popularity of the market.”
Queensland Police told NewsWire that a report had been made and investigations were ongoing.
