SINGAPORE — A trading card collector is appealing to the public for help after a bag containing his personal collection allegedly disappeared during a collectibles event at Bishan, with footage of the incident attracting more than 430,000 views online.
The incident reportedly happened at around 4.30pm on October 9 at the CAPS Card Show, held at Junction 8 shopping mall.
The collector, who has not been publicly identified in the report, claims that a man and a woman took his unattended sling bag while he was negotiating a card trade with a vendor.
What makes the case particularly concerning for collectors is that the missing bag allegedly contained valuable trading cards — items that can be difficult to replace and whose market value may depend on rarity, condition and authenticity.
The collector has since created an Instagram account, @looking.for.stolenbag, to share footage of the incident and appeal for information about the couple.
But one small detail could help distinguish his bag from others: a white Totoro keychain attached to it.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPS CARD SHOW?
According to the collector’s account, he was at the CAPS Card Show, described as Singapore’s premier trading card game and collectibles event, when the bag went missing.
Footage shared through the Instagram account shows the collector wearing a blue shirt and carrying a sling bag.
He reportedly placed the bag on the floor while negotiating a deal with a vendor.
At one point, he stepped away from the booth to retrieve additional cards for what he described as “pack-for-pack battles” — an activity involving exchanges or comparisons of trading card packs.
The footage then shows a couple browsing the cards displayed at the booth.
The woman is described as having red hair and carrying a Doraemon-themed backpack, while the man accompanying her is also seen carrying several bags.
According to the footage, the pair appear to notice the unattended sling bag and point it out to each other.
When the collector walks away from the booth again, the couple allegedly move the bag, place it with their belongings and leave the area.
The collector later identified the bag as his because of the white Totoro keychain attached to it.
The video does not independently establish the couple’s identities or prove their intentions. The allegations remain subject to police investigation.
WHY THE COLLECTOR IS DESPERATELY SEEKING THE BAG
The missing property is more than an ordinary personal bag.
The collector claims it contained his personal trading card collection, which included valuable cards.
For collectors, the loss of a rare card can represent more than its purchase price. Some cards have limited production runs, special editions or unique grading histories that make individual pieces difficult to replace.
The value of a collectible can also depend on its physical condition, authenticity, rarity and demand among buyers.
However, the collector’s precise financial loss and the full value of the missing cards have not been independently established in the available reporting.
AsiaOne reported that the collector had created the Instagram account about a month after the incident to publicise the footage and details of the missing collection.
He also said that he had lodged a police report.
As of November 11, the footage had attracted more than 430,000 views and close to 300 comments.
ONLINE REACTIONS ARE DIVIDED
The footage has prompted mixed reactions from social media users.
Some viewers expressed sympathy for the collector and hoped that the missing cards would be returned.
Others criticised him for leaving his bag unattended in a crowded event space.
The debate highlights a familiar problem at conventions, exhibitions and trading events: collectors often carry valuable items while negotiating trades, browsing displays or moving between booths.
A momentary distraction can leave personal belongings vulnerable.
However, leaving a bag unattended does not make someone responsible for another person’s alleged decision to take it.
The responsibility for establishing what happened rests with investigators and the available evidence.
The collector’s public appeal is an attempt to obtain information that may help establish the couple’s identities and recover the missing property.
WHY TRADING CARD COLLECTIONS CAN BE WORTH SO MUCH
Trading cards have developed into a substantial collectibles market, with some rare items fetching thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The market includes Pokémon, One Piece, sports cards and other trading card games.
In a separate Singapore incident reported in November, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officers found 105 One Piece trading cards estimated to be worth approximately S$400,000 in a traveller’s luggage at Changi Airport.
The 31-year-old Singaporean had initially declared that he was carrying two trading cards. The case was referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.
That incident is unrelated to the Bishan theft allegation, but it illustrates how valuable collectible cards can become.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously examined the high-value collectibles market in Singapore Man Stopped at Changi Airport With 105 One Piece Trading Cards Worth S$400,000 — But Why Did He Declare Only Two?.
The difference is important: the airport case concerned a customs declaration and investigation, while the Bishan incident involves an alleged theft of a collector’s bag.
SINGAPORE HAS SEEN OTHER THEFT CASES INVOLVING VALUABLE PROPERTY
The Bishan incident comes amid other theft cases in Singapore involving cash, personal belongings and high-value items.
In October, a man was arrested after allegedly stealing a wedding ang bao box containing approximately S$2,000 from a hotel along Beach Road.
Police said officers reviewed CCTV footage and conducted ground enquiries before arresting the suspect.
WWC ONE MEDIA covered the case in Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Wedding Ang Bao Box Containing S$2,000 at Beach Road Hotel.
Another case involved a valuable diamond stolen from a Chinatown jewellery store. Two men were eventually sentenced after a plan involving a counterfeit replacement stone.
The incident demonstrated how valuable property can become the target of carefully planned theft.
Read WWC ONE MEDIA’s report: Singapore Thief Hid a Fake Diamond in His Mouth to Steal a S$200,000 Gem — But One Tiny Detail Brought the Entire Plan Down.
Not every theft case involves an elaborate plan, however. In September, CCTV footage from a Yishun durian stall showed a man allegedly taking a staff member’s mobile phone from a table.
The stall subsequently appealed for the phone’s return and lodged a police report.
WWC ONE MEDIA reported the incident in Yishun Durian Stall CCTV Captures Man Allegedly Stealing Staff Phone in Broad Daylight.
These are separate incidents and there is no evidence connecting them to the Bishan card-show case. They nevertheless illustrate why CCTV footage, prompt reporting and secure handling of valuables can be important when investigating alleged theft.
WHAT DOES SINGAPORE POLICE ADVISE PEOPLE TO DO?
The Singapore Police Force regularly reminds members of the public to safeguard valuables and report suspected theft promptly.
In an October 2026 advisory involving thefts onboard aircraft, police urged passengers to keep cash and valuables with them rather than placing them in overhead compartments.
The advice also included watching for suspicious behaviour and alerting staff or authorities when necessary.
Although that advisory concerned aircraft thefts rather than the Bishan incident, the underlying precaution is relevant to crowded public events: keep valuable belongings within sight and avoid leaving them unattended.
Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity at a convention or collectibles event should inform event organisers or security personnel and preserve any relevant footage or information for the police.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The collector says he has already lodged a police report and is using social media to appeal for information.
AsiaOne reported that it had reached out to him for further details.
The identities of the people seen in the footage have not been publicly confirmed, and no arrest or charge was reported in the article.
Anyone with relevant information should provide it directly to the Singapore Police Force rather than attempting to identify or confront people based on online speculation.
The collector’s appeal also leaves several questions unanswered:
- How many cards were inside the missing bag?
- What was the collection’s total estimated value?
- Has the bag or any of its contents been recovered?
- Have investigators identified the people seen in the footage?
Those details will be important in determining the full extent of the loss.
A WARNING FOR COLLECTORS: ONE DISTRACTION CAN COST MORE THAN A BAG
Trading card shows are designed to bring collectors together to buy, sell, trade and showcase their collections.
But the value of the items being carried can make these events attractive environments for opportunistic theft.
The Bishan incident is a reminder that even a brief distraction during a transaction can leave valuable possessions exposed.
For the collector, the immediate priority is recovering his bag and the cards inside it.
For the wider collecting community, the case raises a bigger question about how organisers, vendors and visitors can better protect valuable collections at crowded events.
And as the footage continues circulating online, one detail may prove especially important: Will someone recognise the couple — and help return the collection before its cards disappear for good?
