Man Arrested After Hiding Inside Closed Pasadena Best Buy for Pokémon Card Release

PASADENA, CA — In an unusual turn of events, a man was arrested for commercial burglary after he hid inside a Best Buy retail store in Pasadena, California, before closing hours. His goal was to secure the first spot in line for an upcoming Pokémon card drop.

The incident occurred on May 2, 2026, amid the ongoing frenzy surrounding rare collectible card releases. Store employees, unaware of the hidden individual, locked up the establishment for the evening. Overnight, the suspect emerged from his hiding spot, triggering the building's motion-sensor security alarms.

Pasadena police officers arrived at the scene shortly after the alarm was triggered. Upon entering the building, officers located the man, who was taken into custody without further incident. While the suspect claimed he had no intention of stealing merchandise other than purchasing the cards when the store opened, entering and remaining in a closed commercial building with the intent to commit a crime constitutes commercial burglary under California law.

The Pasadena Police Department reminded the public that violating store policies and trespassing or hiding in commercial buildings is illegal and carries severe consequences, regardless of how popular a collectible release may be.