YOU CAN Help Catch The Thieves

Dylan Busby dylan@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee SILSBEE — Stark Trading Card Co. will remain closed until further notice after four people broke into the store early Monday, vandalized the showroom and stole trading cards, including much of the owner’s personal collection. Store owner Jennifer Stark said the burglars entered through a side window around 3:45 a.m. before moving through the kitchen and into the main showroom. “They came into the showroom, set the cameras off here,” Stark said. “They saw the camera over here and covered it up, but they didn’t see the cameras in the back.” Surveillance footage shows four people inside the business. Stark said they used a hammer to smash several display cases but did not take all the merchandise inside them. Broken glass covered cards and other items throughout the showroom. The group took Pokémon cards from behind the register, including Japanese and Chinese products, before entering an office containing a personal collection belonging to Stark’s husband, Brett. Stark estimated about $10,000 worth of collectibles were stolen. The burglars left behind his baseball cards, autographed items and other parts of the collection. Some of the stolen merchandise was later recovered along a path leading from the store toward McDonald’s, Stark said. However, a significant portion remained missing Monday. Silsbee police officers who responded to the business said they were confident in the amount of evidence collected, including DNA evidence and footage from the store’s Ring security cameras. The store released surveillance images of the four people and a close-up photograph showing a tattoo on one person’s hand. Anyone who recognizes the people or tattoo is asked to email office@starktradingco.com. Tips will be forwarded to the Silsbee Police Department. The business is offering a $20,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the four people involved. Stark Trading Card Co. will remain closed while the owners assess the damage, clean the building and replace inventory. Stark said the store will reopen as soon as possible. “This is a store for the community, and I won’t let them keep us away from the community for long,” she said.