A comic collector has shared how thieves stole about $35,000 worth of comics after breaking into his storage unit just days before Christmas, wiping out a large part of his collection overnight.
The YouTuber, known as The Omnibus Collector, revealed the theft in a video on his channel, where he regularly posts about comics and manga. He explained that the storage unit held the high-value books he didn’t have room to keep at home, mainly deluxe omnibus editions.
According to him, the thieves took around 40 boxes of books, along with a bicycle and tools that once belonged to his grandfather. He believes the unit wasn’t targeted because the criminals knew what was inside, but because they likely noticed him visiting it often.
Although he identified where the thieves exited and which security camera should have recorded the incident, management later told him there was no usable footage, leaving little chance of tracking anyone down. Police also said that even if the comics were recovered, proving ownership would be difficult since the books don’t have serial numbers or unique identifiers.
“A few days later, I realized there’s nothing I can do — I’m not getting those books back,” he said.
While his home was never broken into, the theft still had a deep impact. “They didn’t just take my collection,” he explained. “They took my sense of security.” The stress has since pushed him to plan a move so he no longer needs to rely on off-site storage.
In the aftermath, fans have stepped in to support him, sending replacement books and gift cards. So far, he’s managed to recover about 20 volumes thanks to their help.
Despite the loss, he says he’s determined to start over:
“We’re going to replace it. We’re going to rebuild. And it’s going to be better than ever.”