Stolen trading cards: authenticating the object does not prove custody
Two pallets disappeared beside the authenticator
On October 13, 2026, a FedEx truck was broken into near Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) in Santa Ana, California. Police said two pallets and part of a third were taken, containing Pokémon, sports and other trading cards. The preliminary value was at least $963,000 and could rise after the remaining boxes were checked. Read CBS Los Angeles coverage
A valid identity does not document the journey
Professional grading helps prove what a card is and the condition in which it was assessed. By itself, it does not show who held the package after authentication, when it left the site, which seal protected it or where an unauthorised opening occurred. PSA deactivated authentication certificates and alerted marketplace partners in this case: a useful resale control, but one applied after physical custody had already failed.
Bind the object, package and handoff
A verifiable chain of custody can bind every certified identifier to the package, seal, shipment lot, vehicle and authorised parties. Pickup, opening, diversion and delivery events can be recorded with time and location. A blockchain record cannot prevent theft, but it makes anomalous changes and transfers harder to conceal. Explore Sensefinity blockchain
The passport should travel with the asset
A Digital Product Passport can preserve the link between identity, legitimate owner, certificate, custody status and transfer history. Marketplaces, insurers and buyers can check whether a card has reappeared outside the authorised route instead of relying only on photographs or a copied number. Explore Sensefinity Digital Product Passport
The same discipline protects sensitive goods
The principle extends to art, electronics, food and products whose condition may deteriorate during a diversion. When cargo is recovered, origin evidence should be combined with inspection and, where relevant, temperature, humidity and shock history before the goods return to market. Visit FoodSteps
- Bind the certificate to the physical identifier of the item and package.
- Record pickup, handoff and delivery with verified identity.
- Alert on unauthorised opening, stopping or routing.
- Automatically suspend credentials for diverted assets.
- Document condition and disposition before a recovered asset returns to market.