Missing Cargo Discovered at a PSA Facility
A shipment of Pokémon, sports and other collectible trading cards worth nearly $1 million has gone missing from a FedEx truck in Santa Ana, California. The theft came to light on October 13, when the driver discovered that the lock securing the rear cargo door was missing and several packages had disappeared.
The vehicle was parked in a lot belonging to Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), a company specializing in the authentication and professional grading of trading cards. Although the property belongs to PSA, members of the public can access the parking area.
Upon inspecting the truck, the driver found that its contents had been disturbed. Two pallets were missing entirely, while an undetermined number of packages had been removed from a third pallet.
Santa Ana police confirmed that the driver had left the vehicle before discovering the missing lock. Other media reports indicated that he had been away for between 60 and 90 minutes. However, a police department spokesperson told FreightWaves on Tuesday that investigators could not independently confirm this timeframe. Detectives are examining the driver’s account to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
After discovering the missing cargo, the driver contacted local police, who responded to investigate. According to the initial findings, each of the two missing pallets contained approximately 100 packages of collectible trading cards. Authorities have not yet established how many individual cards were stolen.
Loss estimate: $963,000+
Police initially estimated the missing goods to be worth around $963,000. But the total financial loss could be higher, as investigators have not yet conducted a detailed inventory of the items taken.
The shipment was collectible cards relating to PSA, which certifies and gives professional grades to trading cards. It remains unclear what role, if any, the company played in the shipment as authorities have not determined if FedEx was transporting cards to the facility for grading or picking up completed orders to deliver back to customers.
FedEx provided a statement to FreightWaves confirming that it is cooperating with law enforcement.
“We have made the security of our customers’ shipments a top priority and are working with local law enforcement in their investigation.
No further details were given by the airline about the destination of the shipment or the type of delivery assignment it was carrying out. FreightWaves also reached out to PSA for clarification on the shipment’s direction and to identify potentially impacted customers, but the firm hadn’t responded by publication time.
The incident comes as concerns about cargo theft in Southern California grow. FreightWaves reported that the region remained a major hotspot for freight theft during the second quarter of 2026. CargoNet separately reported cargo theft losses of $304.6 million in the same period.
The figures tell the story of the economic impact of cargo theft across the supply chain, though neither report links those broader trends to the disappearance of the FedEx shipment.
Detectives Examine Surveillance Video and Collect Evidence
Detectives returned to the PSA facility Tuesday, Oct. 20 to look at possible surveillance footage and collect more evidence. They will check the driver’s story and analyze the vehicle’s movements to determine where the cargo might have gone missing.
The discovery of the missing goods in the PSA parking lot does not prove that the theft occurred in this place. Investigators have said it is not yet known if the vehicle was entered while parked at the facility or if the cargo was taken at some other point along its journey.
There are still some points in the case that are not settled. Police have not identified any suspects, determined if the cards were specifically targeted for their collectible value, or identified the type of vehicle involved. It’s not yet known what kind of truck it was – tractor-trailer, box truck or a smaller delivery vehicle.
No arrests have been made and authorities have not reported recovering any of the missing merchandise.
The full impact on customers is also yet to be established by the investigation. Santa Ana police have recommended anyone concerned about missing trading cards contact PSA directly. There has been no full inventory released of the shipments impacted, so it’s unclear how many customers are affected.
More details will be added as they become available, FreightWaves said.
Why It Matters
The theft of $1 million worth of collectible trading cards from a FedEx truck highlights the financial danger that high-value cargo deliveries pose. Two pallets are missing, a third has only been partially emptied and investigators still do not know where or when the theft took place so they are trying to reconstruct the movements of the shipment and locate possible security lapses.
The case also emphasizes the necessity of securing vehicles when unattended, monitoring access to cargo compartments and maintaining accurate records of freight movements. For carriers, logistics operators and companies handling high value merchandise, these measures remain key to limiting losses and protecting customers’ shipments.
