A comic collector has revealed that thieves stole $35,000 worth of comics after breaking into his storage unit just before Christmas, wiping out a huge portion of his collection in a single night.
The Omnibus Collector, a YouTuber who posts weekly videos about comics and manga revealed the news on his channel. He explained that the unit held comics he did not have space to display at home, mostly high-value omnibus editions.
According to him, around 40 boxes of books were taken, along with a bike and tools that belonged to his grandfather. He believes the unit was targeted after someone saw him frequently accessing it, rather than the thieves knowing exactly what was inside.
$35,000 of comics stolen by thieves
While the collector identified the exit route and the camera that should have captured the theft, he says management told him there was no usable footage, leaving little hope of identifying those responsible.
Police also told him that even if the comics were recovered, proving ownership would be extremely difficult since the books have no serial numbers or identifying marks.
“It brought me to the realization, a few days after it happened, that like there’s nothing that I can do. I’m not getting those books back,” he said.
Although his home was never broken into, the experience has left a lasting impact. “They also stole my sense of security,” he admitted, explaining that the anxiety has pushed him to plan an emergency move so he no longer needs off-site storage.
Following the theft, fans have rallied around him with replacement books and gift cards, helping him recover around 20 volumes so far.
Despite the theft, The Omnibus Collector remains hopeful that he’ll be able to rebuild his collection: “We’re going to replace. We’re going to rebuild. And it’s going to be better than ever.”
