Lethbridge man charged in connection with theft of valuable Magic: The Gathering collection

The front and back of a Magic:The Gathering trading card (supplied:LRPS)

Members of the Lethbridge Police Service have arrested a 33-year-old man after hundreds of Magic: The Gathering cards were stolen.

According to the LPS, the rightful owner of the cards participated in a Magic:The Gathering tournament at Kapow Comics, a local comic store, on January 22 and inadvertently left the cards behind. The cards, which have an estimated value of $10,000, were removed from the premises by an unknown suspect.

The following day, LPS members responded to Showcase Comics following reports someone was attempting to sell the ill-gotten cards. The suspect fled the shop prior to the arrival of police, leaving behind 35 of the stolen cards.

Police located and arrested 33-year-old Michael Thomas Coates in connection with the theft investigation.

Coates faces charges of:

Anyone with information about the location of the outstanding 400 plus cards or who may have traded or purchased cards from Coates in the last few weeks , is asked to contact the LRPS, (403)-328-4444, or Crime Stoppers.