A person was arrested inside a locked Pasadena Greatest Purchase within the early hours of Wednesday whereas Pokemon collectors lined up exterior for a extremely sought-after card restock, with police saying the odd timing seems to be a coincidence quite than a part of any Pokemon-style “catch all of them” scheme.
Officers have been referred to as to the shop on the 3400 block of East Foothill Boulevard round 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday after Greatest Purchase safety, monitoring reside surveillance cameras, noticed a person strolling by the closed retailer and alerted police, in keeping with the Pasadena Police Division.
Police met with a retailer supervisor who unlocked the doorways, permitting officers inside the place they discovered 45-year-old Patrick Keys, described as a homeless man.
He was arrested with out incident.
Investigators mentioned there have been no indicators of compelled entry and imagine he might have slipped in throughout enterprise hours and remained inside after closing.
Whereas inside, Keys reportedly ate retailer snacks, drank sodas and opened a package deal of AirPods.
Police added that Keys has prior contacts with regulation enforcement for theft-related incidents.
Outdoors, a line of Pokemon followers had fashioned hours earlier, some arriving as early as 11 p.m., hoping to safe merchandise from a restock of the Scarlet & Violet, 151 enlargement.
The “151” set is likely one of the most in-demand releases within the Pokemon Buying and selling Card Recreation.
It’s named after the unique 151 Pokemon from the franchise’s first technology, a nostalgic lineup that helped launch the worldwide phenomenon and continues to drive intense collector demand throughout restricted retail drops.
Regardless of the weird overlap between the arrest and the cardboard frenzy exterior, investigators mentioned there isn’t any indication the suspect was linked to the discharge.
“So far as I can inform, it was a coincidence,” the police division informed reporters.
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Nonetheless, the incident comes amid a broader surge in Pokemon card-related thefts.
The truth is, Pokemon playing cards are formally outperforming the S&P 500 with a staggering 46% annual return, in keeping with Fortune.
In February, thieves tunneled into an Anaheim collectibles retailer and stole $180,000 in merchandise, together with beneficial playing cards.
In a brazen daylight ambush this January, a bunch of robbers focused a buyer leaving a West Los Angeles card retailer, forcibly seizing a private Pokemon assortment valued at roughly $300,000.
In December 2025, a Burbank sports activities card store reported about $100,000 in stolen items, with Pokemon playing cards among the many objects taken.
Keys was arrested on suspicion of housebreaking whereas collectors continued ready exterior for the extremely anticipated “151” drop.
