High-Value Inventory Accessed Through Drywall
After thieves breached a shared wall and stole tens of thousands in high-value Pokémon cards in under ten minutes, one reality became clear: retailers with compact, high-resale inventory are prime targets. Traditional alarm systems that trigger after entry, especially in multi-tenant spaces, leave critical vulnerabilities exposed. High-value, highly portable inventory demands faster detection, verified alerts, and security aligned with the speed of the threat.
Incident Summary
Three suspects gained entry to a collectibles store by first breaking into a neighboring business and cutting through drywall. Within minutes, display cases were smashed and tens of thousands of dollars in high-value Pokémon cards were stolen.
The entire event was executed in under ten minutes.
The Pattern: High-Value, Portable Inventory
Retailers selling compact, high-resale items such as trading cards, collectibles, jewelry, and electronics are increasingly targeted.
These products are:
- Easy to conceal
- Quick to remove
- Liquid in secondary markets
- Highly desirable
When criminals identify this combination, they plan accordingly.
The Overlooked Vulnerability: Shared Walls
Many retail operators focus on doors and storefront glass while overlooking shared-wall exposure in multi-tenant plazas. If an adjacent unit is vacant or lightly secured, drywall can become the entry point.
Traditional alarm systems relying on door contacts and motion detectors activate after entry has already occurred. By the time police are notified, suspects may already be inside and removing inventory.
The Limitation of Unverified Alarms
Unverified alarm signals often result in:
- Higher false alarm rates
- Lower police response priority
- Delayed arrival times
Retailers are left reviewing recorded footage after the loss. Documentation is not deterrence.
Operational Reality
If your inventory can be carried out in minutes, your security system must detect intrusion in seconds.
After repeated incidents, continuing to rely on conventional alarm systems becomes a strategic risk decision.
Retailers should evaluate whether their current protection:
- Detects intrusion at the earliest stage, including wall penetration.
- Provides verified information to law enforcement.
- Aligns with the true value and portability of their inventory.
High-value inventory demands security designed for high-value risk.
Book a free security audit today.