Rise in Pokémon Card Thefts in California and Beyond

An increase in Pokémon card thefts has been reported across California, with incidents stretching beyond state lines. In San Francisco, police arrested juveniles involved in a robbery where pepper spray and advanced tools were used. In Brentwood, California, masked thieves took cards valued at thousands in under a minute, prompting the shop owner to enhance security measures.

In a separate incident, a man in South Carolina was taken into custody after allegedly leaving his young daughter unattended outside a Target store overnight. He aimed to keep a spot in line for a new Pokémon trading card release, according to police reports.

Officers from the Charleston Police Department arrested John-Michael Dooley, 35, on November 6. They responded to a call at a Target location around 2:30 a.m. regarding an unattended child. Upon arrival, they discovered the child was initially in line with her father, among a crowd gathered overnight for the release of a new Pokémon card set.

Sometime after 1 a.m., Dooley provided his daughter with a pillow and blanket, leaving her asleep in the line before he left, the police stated.

After an hour had passed and he had not returned, concerned people in the line alerted the authorities. Witnesses identified Dooley when he came back, leading to his arrest. During questioning, Dooley confessed to leaving his daughter to secure his place in line while he went home.

The new card release, Mega Evolution—Delta Reign, attracted many Pokémon fans. While basic booster packs sell for around $5, rare cards may fetch thousands on the secondary market. The popularity of Pokémon among both children and adults persists.

Police assured the public that the child was unharmed and she has been placed under the care of the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Dooley faces charges of unlawful conduct towards a child and was released from Al Cannon Detention Center as per jail records.