Elmwood Park Family Hit Hard After $100K Burglary at Local Card Shop
By Sara Lindsay, Deputy Editor
Elmwood Park resident Ronnie Holloway is recovering from a devastating loss after thieves stole an estimated $100,000 in merchandise from his Northwest Side business earlier this month.
Holloway lives in Elmwood Park with his wife and two young children and owns Elite Sports Cards and Comics in Chicago’s Dunning neighborhood.
In the very early morning hours of April 24, according to reporting from Block Club Chicago, two individuals smashed through the storefront window and headed straight for high-value inventory.
Instead of taking cash, the burglars appeared to target specific items, quickly moving toward display cases containing rare Pokémon cards and premium sports collectibles.
The break-in lasted only a matter of minutes, with Holloway telling Block Club that the thieves were after sealed card packs, including a case of newly released football cards valued at around $20,000.
Police say the break-in happened around 2 a.m. with the suspects entering, gathering merchandise, and fleeing within minutes. No arrests have been reported, according to NBC Chicago.
For Holloway, the impact goes far beyond the financial loss.
“If you know Ronnie, you know how much of his heart and soul lives inside Elite Sports Cards & Comics,” his wife wrote in a message shared with supporters. “This shop isn’t just a business to him. It’s years of hard work, long days, and genuine care for every person who walks through the door.”
This was not the first time that the Holloway’s business was targeted. According to Block Club, his Lincoln Square location was broken into twice in 2022. In one instance, a suspect cut through brick around a rear window, removed security bars, and stole nearly $100,000 worth of cards.
The value of trading cards has surged in recent years and small specialty shops like Holloway’s have increasingly become targets for theft. Rare cards can be resold quickly, often with little traceability, making them especially attractive to criminals.
Despite the setback, Holloway is determined to rebuild. Members of the community are rallying support. Holloway’s wife started a GoFundMe to help their family recover some of their losses and keep the business open.