Bag abandoned on a street in the United States hid treasure of 363 Hot Wheels

Police in the state of Washington, in the United States, came across an unusual find after receiving complaints about a suspicious object abandoned on a public road. At the intersection of two busy streets in the city of Tacoma, what initially appeared to be just garbage disposal turned out to be a batch of 363 Hot Wheels brand miniatures, all preserved in their original packaging.

SEE ALSO:

• Electric, Mustang Cobra Jet 2200 breaks world record
• “National Blue Belt”: understand how it will work and its rules
• Electric Renault 4 gets ‘root’ sunroof, made of canvas and inspired by the 1960s

Evidence of a high-value collection

The state of conservation of the items suggests that the collection did not belong to the children’s universe, but rather to a specialized collector or dealer. The fact that all the copies are sealed in the so-called “blisters” (plastic and cardboard packaging) and without signs of handling reinforces the thesis that it is a batch of considerable commercial value. In this state, the 363 carts can be worth an average of $450 and $700. Rare models, however, can easily raise that figure, costing $275 each.

According to information released by the Fox 13 broadcaster, the authorities raise the hypothesis that the material has an illicit origin, possibly linked to cargo thefts or from retail establishments in the region. This line of investigation would explain the sudden abandonment of the black bag on the highway, possibly in an attempt to dispose of evidence after the crime.

Currently, the miniatures are in custody at the Tacoma Police Department headquarters. To mitigate the risk of fraudulent claims, officials chose not to release the full inventory or detailed photos of specific models. The security procedure requires the rightful owner to provide a thorough description of the contents to prove ownership.

The case, which quickly went viral on collectors’ forums and social networks, remains open. Given the vast array of models produced by Hot Wheels since 1968, police believe that only the true owner will be able to list the rare pieces that make up the collection. So far, no one has formally come forward to claim the collection.