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:

Theft over $5,000

Possession of stolen property for the purpose of trafficking

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.