Pokémon bandits tunneled into a Los Angeles collectible shop and made off with nearly $200K in cards in a brazen burglary in Anaheim.

It happened in the early morning hours of Wednesday morning at DOWE Collectibles in the 1100 block of North Harbor Boulevard, the Anaheim Police Department told KTLA.

Investigators said suspects broke into one office and, using a sledgehammer, smashed through drywall and tunneled into the collectible card shop next door.

Security camera footage from CBSLA showed the suspects breaking into the shop through the wall before the masked thieves used sledgehammers to break display cases.

The burglars made their way through the shop, smashing cases and filling up giant black bags of $180,000 worth of the cards, police said.

The owner of the shop, Duy Pham, said when his phone alerted him to the break-in he could not believe what he was seeing.

“I clicked on the footage and saw guys coming through the hole,” Pham said. “My heart was pounding. I called 911 right away and rushed over here.”

The owner said the burglars didn’t bother with electronics and focused only on the collectable cards.

“They didn’t touch our computers or cameras,” Pham said. “They were here for the cards.”

KTLA’s video showed the damage in the wall and what the shop looked like after the break in. 

No arrests have been made, and police confirmed to KTLA that detectives are following up on leads in the case.

Police did not immediately return calls from The Post. This is only the latest example of thieves breaking into collectible stores for the specialty cards. 

In January, Merch-loving thieves stole a $300,000 set of Pokémon cards and other collectibles in two robberies in Los Angeles-including a brazen caught-on-camera heist using an electric saw, The Post reported.

The Anaheim shop owner said there’s been an increase in the value of the Pokémon cards and pointed out how some are worth thousands of dollars. 

“One card can be worth up to $10,000,” Pham told KTLA. “People see the money is there.”

He added, “We kind of expected something like this sooner or later. When you’re in this business, you feel like you have a target on your back.”

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith called out California Gov. Gavin Newsom on his “Straight Shooter” podcast Wednesday, telling the governor he is “still waiting” for him to appear on his show and “answer” for issues facing the state, including homelessness, crime, California’s sanctuary status and what he described as “billions in debt.”

Smith noted that former Vice President Kamala Harris leads the Real Clear Politics polling average for the Democratic Party’s nomination for president at 31%, while Newsom trails at 22%. He argued that Harris being the favorite for the Democratic Party’s nomination is an “indictment against the party” and the fact that “her name still even exists” means “nobody else has stepped up and stood out.”

“Gavin Newsom, 22%. Still waiting for you to come on the show, Mr. Governor,” Smith said. “Still waiting. Still waiting, Gavin Newsom.”

“I keep telling you, it’s going to be more, far more pleasant than you realize,” Smith continued. “Because I just want to ask questions and I want to listen to your answers. I don’t want a ‘got you’ moment. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I don’t want to go back and forth with you, interrogating you like I’m some prosecutor or whatever.”  

Smith referenced recent comments from former President Barack Obama where he criticized the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, calling it an “atrocity” given the billions of dollars elected officials have thrown at the problem over the years.

“I simply want you to answer for your state about the homelessness that Obama just alluded to, which he labeled an embarrassment,” Smith said. “About the crime. About defund the police, about being a sanctuary city and state. About billions in debt. About homelessness. Where’s the answer to those questions?”

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Obama was speaking with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen on Saturday when he touched on criticism local residents and business owners have voiced for years.

“I think it is morally — ethically speaking — it is an atrocity that in a country this wealthy, we have people just on the streets, and we should insist on policies that recognize their full humanity — people who are houseless — and be able to provide them with the help and resources that they need,” Obama said.

“We should recognize that the average person doesn’t want to have to navigate around a tent city in the middle of downtown,” he added. “That’s a losing political strategy.”

Smith has been consistent in criticizing Newsom for not appearing on his show to discuss the current state of California and his potential 2028 presidential campaign. 

In late January, Smith pointed out that Newsom had been invited onto the show on “numerous occasions” but never accepted the invitation, calling out the governor for declining to do so.

“What the hell you running from me for?” Smith asked. “I just want to ask questions. I want to give you an opportunity to answer to the people of California and to the American people if you’re going to be a presidential candidate in 2028. Gavin Newsom not appearing on this show doesn’t stop me from talking about him and his record.” 

“I don’t know all about his record. He does. And he has the platform here anytime he wants to make sure that the record is set straight,” he added.

When reached for contact by Fox News Digital, a representative for Newsom responded with the following statement: “The Governor crushed Hannity and DeSantis head-on. He’s not ducking anybody, he’s just busier than Stephen apparently is. But we’re still planning to do his show.”

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

A childhood friend of the California surfer found murdered in Costa Rica has revealed the victim’s son’s haunting words when he broke the news.

Kurt Van Dyke, 66, was slain in a horrific home invasion in the city of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca where he lived on Saturday morning.

Two armed men stormed the property, zip-tied his girlfriend and escaped with valuables including their car. His girlfriend was unharmed.

Kurt’s childhood friend Dave Smith revealed more details of the shocking attack in a new interview on Monday night.

He told KSBW Kurt’s oldest son, a bubble tea business owner who lives in the country, spoke to him following the slaying, saying: “Well, someone murdered my father.” Smith said he replied: “whew.”

He continued: “You know, it’s one of those things you just can’t believe: Kurt was very famous around here for just being a really good surfer.

“Everybody knew him — everybody that’s from Santa Cruz originally, and even people generationally, they know of him. Their kids know him, too.

“If there is a Steve McQueen of surfing, it would have been Kurt Van Dyke. He just had the swagger. He had the look — ever since he was 13 years old. And he had that softness about him.”

Kurt was found with multiple stab wounds and signs he had been suffocated. He was discovered under a bed in the house with a sheet covering him and a knife next to his head.

His girlfriend, identified only as Arroyo, 31, in reports, had been in the shower when the attack started before being zip-tied and assaulted. Cops later said she was unharmed.

Kurt’s brother revealed to the California Post on Monday that he believed the killing was “more nefarious” than just a random break-in.

While he knew of a girlfriend, he didn’t know much about her and warned there were people in the area “who did not like him.”

He told The Post on Monday: “There are people who like him and there are people who don’t. It was more nefarious.”

Kurt had several business partners in the region after moving to Costa Rica in the mid-1980s, according to his brother.

The two spoke weekly, and Peter revealed his brother had assured him recently “he had everything under control.”

He said he was in contact with the US Embassy in Costa Rica, which has communicated with the family regarding Kurt’s remains.

As California’s deadly drunk driving problem has exploded in recent years, with the state being home to six of the country’s 10 worst cities for DUIs, the Los Angeles police union is now placing the blame squarely at the feet of socialist politicians for slashing resources and soft on crime policies.

After three LAPD officers were hospitalized during a suspected DUI pursuit in the San Fernando Valley Saturday night, the police union released a fiery statement to The California Post, condemning lefty lawmakers.

“Driving while intoxicated is not a victimless crime and when Los Angeles politicians such as Councilmember Nithya Raman and Eunisses Hernandez repeatedly vote to cut police officers, stop enforcing DUI laws and end most other traffic enforcement, in the name of criminal justice reform, it only makes our streets less safe for every Angeleno,” the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Police Protective League said in a statement.

And while the officers were lucky to be released from the hospital without any major injuries, some families aren’t so fortunate.

Jennifer Levi knows the pain of losing a love one all too well. Her 18-year-old son was killed by a suspected repeat drunk driver, and thanks to laws regarding non-violent crimes and good behavior, offenders can serve little jail time and find themselves quickly back behind the wheel — something she is afraid will happen in her case. 

“The safety of our roads is deteriorating to a point where everyday it feels like there’s a death from a drunk driver,” said Levi, who lost her son Braun back in May after he was struck and killed while walking home by Jenia Resha Belt, 33, who faces one count of murder.

The California Post has reached out to Raman and Hernandez’s offices for comment but did not hear back.

Now, Levi is one of several victims stepping up to push lawmakers to crack down on California’s lax drunk driving laws, including Democrat State Senator Bob Archuleta, whose eldest granddaughter died from a head-on crash with a drunk driver in 2024.

“You’re intoxicated and you cause great bodily injury to someone, that is considered a violent crime, but the killing of that person would not be a violent crime under current law,” a spokesperson for Archuleta said. 

But it’s not just drunk drivers who are are getting let off the hook, Allison Layman is fighting to revoke another soft law that went into effect in 2021. That law, Assembly Bill 3234, expanded the misdemeanor diversion program to include vehicular manslaughter after her 23-year-old son was killed by a drunk driver.

“What’s happened in the last five years, is judges are, I mean, almost handing it out like candy,” Lyman said of the program that allows offenders to receive less punishment than a speeding ticket in some cases.

Drunk driving continues to be a major problem across the state — with a DUI rate of 3.68 per 1,000 drivers, San Jose is second on the list for worst cities in America, followed by Sacramento, according to recent data from LendingTree. Fresno came in at fifth on the list with a DUI rate of 3.31, followed by Long Beach at seven, then Bakersfield, and Oakland.

Levi’s son, Braun, was one of those tragedies that happens too often in California.

“He was gonna go play tennis at the University of Virginia. He loved life, he was a great kid, he worked hard,” Levi said. “It’s completely devastating to us, and I couldn’t believe it happened to us and it’s just so sad that that our state is like this.”

Braun was a nationally recognized tennis player, who was killed just a week before his high school graduation. 

Just over 1,300 people were killed in an alcohol-involved crash in 2023, representing a more than 50% increase over the past decade, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. Thousands more were injured, and more often than not, it’s a result from repeat offenders, according to a report from CalMatters. 

“What shocks me the most is how little time they serve in jail for killing somebody,” Levi told The California Post. “Right now, you are drunk and you injure someone, you will most likely spend more time in jail than if you kill somebody, because it’s called an accident. Braun’s death certificate says accident. That was not an accident.” 

While Levi’s case is still ongoing, there are even more recent examples of vehicular manslaughter that resulted in early release. Over the weekend, a California woman who killed a 21-year-old cyclist in her fourth distracted-driving crash was set to be released early on Valentine’s Day for good behavior. She began serving a nine-year prison term in 2023. 

“Because the way credits work, for good behavior and doing certain things while you’re incarcerated, non-violent felonies you can get up to 50% of your time taken off, while a violent felony you can only have 15% taken off,” a spokesperson for Archuleta told The Post. 

Archuleta introduced Senate Bill 907, which aims to strengthen California’s DUI enforcement and sentencing laws. 

The bill would target repeat offenders and add gross vehicular manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated to the violent felony list, ensuring those who killed someone while drunk driving serve more time than someone who injures a person. 

Another key provision of the bill is “Braun’s Law,” which mandates Watson Warnings in cases where the perpetrator pleas down from a DUI to a hit and run — following the warning, if a person kills someone while drinking and driving they face second degree murder charges. 

“The Watson Warning is not read consistently throughout California,” Levi said. “The woman who killed our son, she had a previous DUI but made a misdemeanor plea deal for a hit and run and was never read the Watson Warning.”

While the bill, which has bipartisan support, would be a major enhancement on the state’s drunk driving laws, it doesn’t address 2020’s Assembly Bill 3234, which expanded misdemeanor diversion programs to vehicular manslaughter — something Lyman has urged lawmakers to reform after her son Connor Lopez was killed by a distracted driver. 

Lyman, who lost her son last summer, said because of this diversion program, speeding tickets can come with more penalties than vehicular manslaughter. 

“We think it’s to empty the jails, that’s been kind of the consensus as we’ve spoken about it — is there was a big soft on crime push, and they didn’t want to pay to put people in jail,” Lyman told The Post.

An investigation by CalMatters found that because of the misdemeanor diversion program, some people charged with vehicular manslaughter were able to keep the case off their driving record. 

Lopez, a pianist, was killed in April in Elk Grove when a driver turned into oncoming traffic and hit him while riding his motorcycle.

“He died on the road, that driver never got out of her car,” Lyman said. “She sat there as others ran to cover his body.” 

The driver, Harjit Kaur, was charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Connor’s family was told to brace themselves for the likely chance a misdemeanor diversion is granted. 

“We’re just anticipating at one of the hearings that will be part of her defense,” Lyman said. “It’s like the moment you find out about it, you start living that nightmare. It hasn’t even happened yet and you know, we’ve been told brace for it.”

Lyman is now trying to raise as much awareness as possible to revoke the eligibility of diversion programs for vehicular manslaughter convictions, even starting a petition that has garnered nearly 13,000 signatures to push lawmakers to act. 

California has a history of deadly roads, and a criminal justice system that Lyman said “it’s like the compassion goes toward the criminal and not the victim.”

And while no sentence or justice will ever bring their children back, Lyman and Levi are making it their mission to make the state’s roads safer for future generations.

“The woman who killed our son had a suspended license,” Levi said. “Our family will be disappointed and nothing will ever bring our son back and no sentencing or charge will ever feel like enough, but I feel so strongly about changing California for the future.” 

Barack Obama took a thinly-veiled jab at California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the homeless “atrocity” in Los Angeles Saturday.

During a conversation with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama explained: “We should recognize that the average person doesn’t want to have to navigate around a tent city in the middle of downtown.

”That’s a losing political strategy.”

“I think it is morally — ethically speaking — it is an atrocity that in a country this wealthy, we have people just on the streets, and we should insist on policies that recognize their full humanity — people who are houseless — and be able to provide them with the help and resources that they need.”

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Meanwhile, at his State of the State address at the Capitol last month, Newsom celebrated a statewide drop in homelessness; however, Los Angelenos were not here for false hopes.

Business owners, residents, and local leaders said the governor’s claims of a 9% decline did not match the reality of widespread encampments and frequent public drug use.

Even inside the Capitol, lawmakers responded cautiously after Newsom’s victory lap.

California has spent more than $24 billion on homelessness programs during Newsom’s time as governor, with spending increasing each year.

In 2024, homelessness reached a record high across the state, with nearly 124,000 people unsheltered, according to federal data. Newsom did not share a statewide total for 2025, and updated federal census data is not yet available.

Starting your day off with a bowl of oatmeal could be the key to living longer, dietitians have revealed. 

Eggs, savory meats like bacon, sweet pancakes and sugary cereals are American breakfast staples, but the picks have long gotten flack for being high in saturated fat and sugar, which may raise the risk of long-term health issues. 

And surveys suggest as many as one in four US adults regularly skip breakfast entirely, leading to a lack of focus, fatigue and overeating later in the day. 

Oatmeal, however, could help stave off overeating, regulate blood sugar and slash saturated fat intake, making the body less prone to issues such as heart disease and cancer.

Oats are rich in fiber, a nutrient necessary for adding bulk to stool to make it easier to pass and slowing down digestion.

Protein in oatmeal also slows digestion, promoting fullness and lowering the risk of overeating and obesity.  

One bowl also contains complex carbohydrates and vitamins like manganese, magnesium and iron, which lower disease-causing inflammation in the body and protect cells, slowing the aging process. 

Dietitians also note that because oatmeal is versatile, it can easily be customized with fresh fruit and seeds to add extra antioxidants and protein. 

Dietitians have revealed eating oatmeal every day could increase the chance of living longer (stock image)

Vandana Sheth, registered dietitian nutritionist in California, told EatingWell: ‘Oatmeal when prepared well can support heart health, blood sugar balance and longevity.’

Oats are also inexpensive, costing as little as $3 for 18 ounces.

One cup of dry oats contains around four grams of fiber, nearly one-fifth of the recommended daily intake of 25 to 30g for women and one-sixth of the 30 to 38 recommended grams for men. 

Despite the fact that more than 90 percent of Americans don’t get enough fiber, the nutrient is essential for promoting regular bowel movements and healthy digestion. By adding bulk to stool, fiber softens it and allows it to pass more easily, reducing constipation and keeping it from staying in the colon. 

Fiber has been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, the top cause of cancer death in Americans under 50, because it reduces the risk of bacteria and other contaminants in the stool from coming into contact with colon cells and causing tumors to form.

Fiber also stimulates the release of the appetite-reducing hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy mimic. This reduces appetite and the chance of overeating, in turn lowering the risk of becoming obese and prone to long-term health issues like heart disease and diabetes.

Additionally, fiber slows how quickly sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, which prevents blood sugar spikes. Consistent spikes in blood sugar raise the risk of developing diabetes, nerve damage and kidney disease. 

Oatmeal is rich in fiber, protein and essential vitamins like manganese and magnesium (stock image)

A cup of oats also contains around five grams of protein. Health authorities recommend that average, relatively sedentary adults get 0.36g of protein per 1lbs of body weight, but this varies based on activity level. For a sedentary person weighing 150lbs, they should consume about 55g of protein in a day.

Similar to fiber, protein also releases GLP-1 and takes longer to digest than carbohydrates and fat, keeping it in the stomach longer and increasing fullness. Additionally protein helps repair muscles and protects against muscle loss that comes with aging, lowering the risk of falls, inflammation and heart disease.

Just half a cup of dry oats is packed with vital nutrients, including nearly two-thirds of the daily recommended intake of manganese, which has been linked to bone maintenance and reducing inflammation. 

Manganese is also an antioxidant, a compound that protects the body’s cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. These have been shown to reduce inflammation and boost immune health. 

A cup of oats also has around 13 percent of the recommended daily intake of magnesium, an essential mineral for bone health and overall muscle function. 

Sheth recommends in addition to typical oatmeal toppings like berries and honey, savory options like tofu can further increase nutritional content.

In a game that featured Tacko Fall dunks, mascots playing defense and NBA and MLB MVPs on the sidelines, it was a boy band that actually stole the show on Friday night at the Kia Forum.

CORTIS consistently drew the biggest cheers at the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Inglewood, especially after they took the floor to perform two songs at halftime.

A social media account pretending to be run by actor Mel Gibson teased his entry into the race for California governor — sending hopeful fans into a frenzy as the false statement went viral.

“People keep asking if I’d step up for California,” read a post on X from the verified account @official_mel_Gb, which had been viewed more than 360,000 times as of Friday morning.

“Here’s what I know: Our state deserves courage, conviction, and common sense.
No fear. No corruption. No surrender,” it continued. “California can rise again.”

The post received more than a thousands replies, with duped voters cheering on a potential Gibson candidacy.

“It needs you, and people like you who have that courage, conviction, and common sense, to step up and show them. So, are you gonna do it?” one user wrote.

“Heck YES!!!! You’d be perfect!! Who wouldn’t vote for Braveheart,” another added.

“I would knock on doors for you my brother,” a third responded.

The real Gibson has been highly critical of Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, telling Fox News last year they “have already proven their incompetence and poor leadership during the Los Angeles wildfires.”

“Now, as we experience rampant lawlessness and civil unrest, it’s never been more clear,” the actor said. “They’re unable to respond effectively and responsibly during calamity. Whether it’s sheer incompetence or outright malevolence, the reality is stark.”

Gibson emerged last year as a leading Republican contender for the state’s highest office.

In March, a poll found the actor topping the field of potential GOP gubernatorial candidates with 12% of the vote.

At the time, the actor shot down speculation that he would enter the race.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared Sunday “Bad Bunny Day” in the Golden State ahead of the Puerto Rican superstar’s Super Bowl Halftime performance in the Bay Area Sunday.

Channeling President Donald Trump‘s all-caps posting style, Newsom’s press office took to X to gush over the Grammy winner’s looks and talent.

“As many people know, I am a tremendous lover of ‘The Spanish.’ It is a beautiful language spoken by many beautiful people in the great state of California and across the world,” the post read.

“I am also a huge fan of Puerrrrrrrto Rico. That is what I am declaring tomorrow in California as’Bad Bunny Day’ when Bad Bunny performs at the big game in the Golden state with his soothing, beautiful voice, and his very nice looks.”

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“Many people can’t stop talking about him according to my ‘guys’ and ‘gals!’” the message continued,” before taking a jab at Fox News host Jesse Watters, claiming the anchor is “obsessed” with the singer as much as he is the governor. 

“We love Bad Bunny!” it concluded. “He is nearly as ‘hot” as me, which is a big compliment, because here is nobody ‘hotter. Happy Bad Bunny Day, America. Enjoy. -Governor GCN.”

The post comes after major backlash from President Trump and other conservatives against the NFL for tapping the singer for the Super Bowl Halftime show.

In response, the superstar went on Saturday Night Live and told Americans they had to learn Spanish because he wouldn’t be singing in English.