UPS Workers allegedly pilfered $25,000 worth of Magic: The Gathering cards and other inventory from packages sent by Holidae Fun and Games in Rexburg, Idaho, according to KSL Utah.
Back in October 2023, store owner Jarek Smith began to notice that multiple UPS packages that contained store inventory were marked as damaged and not delivered. Smith also noted that the damage claims were odd because they involved liquid spills or leaking packages (liquid contents are quite obviously a rarity for game products). In February 2024, after another package went missing, Smith mentioned its disappearance to a UPS worker, who was also a regular customer. That customer decided to initiate an investigation of the missing packages at the Sugar City UPS facility, which led to one of the suspects involved being caught.
In conjunction with the Madison County Sheriff's Office, UPS began an internal investigation. They later identified three employees suspected of stealing packages from the facility: Jerry Hodges, John Forsyth, and Mitchell Wilwand. Hodges, according to court documents, admitted to stealing multiple PS5 games, Magic: The Gathering cards, a Pixel Google phone, and more in July 2024. Forsyth also admitted to stealing boxes, and returned seven boxes of items worth at least $4,798.30, and Wilwand confessed to stealing random items (cases of red bull, dryer sheets, hand soap, etc) and resigned from UPS.
The game store was specifically targeted because of the suspects' affinity for gaming. In one incident, Hodges actually took a package that was addressed to his relative and re-packaged it with an item in a larger box with stolen inventory from Smith's game store! Smith tried to file a theft claim on the store's missing inventory, multiple times. However, since UPS also filed a theft claim, Smith's claims have been more or less pigeon-holed for the time being. UPS is also keeping the stolen items as evidence, so Smith hasn't gotten any of his paid-for inventory back.
Another games retailer recently helped police recover stolen cards from another shop (see "Retailer Helps Recover Stolen Cards").
From Idaho Game Store Packages; UPS Holds Stolen Goods
Posted by Jeffrey Dohm-Sanchez on November 21, 2024 @ 4:05 pm CT
MORE GAMES
Promo Card Revealed
December 11, 2024
UVS has revealed the promo card and details for prerelease events tied to Critical Role: Heroes of Exandria.
From Unexpected Games
December 11, 2024
Unexpected Games will release a new expansion for its Mandalorian Adventures game exploring Season 2 of the Disney+ series.
MORE NEWS
Kirkman and Ottley Reunite to Tell the Story of the Battle Beast
December 11, 2024
The series, by Invincible co-creators Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley, fills in the missing story of Battle Beast.
Next Summer
December 11, 2024
PRH has announced that it will assume distribution of BOOM! Studios titles to all channels next summer.