A man was arrested inside a locked Pasadena Best Buy in the early hours of Wednesday while Pokemon collectors lined up outside for a highly sought-after card restock, with police saying the odd timing appears to be a coincidence rather than part of any Pokemon-style “catch them all” scheme.
Officers were called to the store on the 3400 block of East Foothill Boulevard around 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday after Best Buy security, monitoring live surveillance cameras, spotted a man walking through the closed store and alerted police, according to the Pasadena Police Department.
Police met with a store manager who unlocked the doors, allowing officers inside where they found 45-year-old Patrick Keys, described as a homeless man.
The incident comes amid a broader surge in Pokemon card-related thefts. RMG NEWS
In April 2026, a man was arrested for hiding inside a Pasadena Best Buy overnight, waiting for the store to open to be first in line for a new Pokémon card release. RMG NEWSHe was arrested without incident.
Investigators said there were no signs of forced entry and believe he may have slipped in during business hours and remained inside after closing.
While inside, Keys reportedly ate store snacks, drank sodas and opened a package of AirPods.
Police added that Keys has prior contacts with law enforcement for theft-related incidents.
Thieves in Anaheim, California, drilled through a neighboring business’s wall to access a shop, stealing roughly ($180,000) in Pokémon cards.
A thief in Florida was reported to have stolen cards from Target over 75 times, hiding them inside taco seasoning packets to sneak them out before reselling. BestbuyOutside, a line of Pokemon fans had formed hours earlier, some arriving as early as 11 p.m., hoping to secure products from a restock of the Scarlet & Violet, 151 expansion.
The “151” set is one of the most in-demand releases in the Pokemon Trading Card Game.
It is named after the original 151 Pokemon from the franchise’s first generation, a nostalgic lineup that helped launch the global phenomenon and continues to drive intense collector demand during limited retail drops.
Despite the unusual overlap between the arrest and the card frenzy outside, investigators said there is no indication the suspect was connected to the release.
“As far as I can tell, it was a coincidence,” the police department told reporters.
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However, the incident comes amid a broader surge in Pokemon card-related thefts.
In fact, Pokemon cards are officially outperforming the S&P 500 with a staggering 46% annual return, according to Fortune.
In February, thieves tunneled into an Anaheim collectibles store and stole $180,000 in merchandise, including valuable cards.
In a brazen daylight ambush this January, a group of robbers targeted a customer leaving a West Los Angeles card store, forcibly seizing a personal Pokemon collection valued at approximately $300,000.
Following a massive fraud scheme, major insurance companies reportedly stopped covering Pokémon collections for nearly 20 years (2001–2019), forcing collectors to seek specialized insurance. RMG NEWSIn December 2025, a Burbank sports card shop reported about $100,000 in stolen goods, with Pokemon cards among the items taken.
Keys was arrested on suspicion of burglary while collectors continued waiting outside for the highly anticipated “151” drop.
