Pokémon Collector Used GPS Tracker to Track Card Restocks
An Ohio collector was arrested after placing a GPS tracker on a delivery driver's car to monitor new Pokémon card stock.
Pokémon fans are known for their determination, but this is something you wouldn't expect. Kent Kubasta, 72, of Medina, was arrested in June after a delivery driver discovered a GPS tracker attached to her vehicle, which police said he had placed there to find out when and where Pokémon cards were being delivered.
According to FOX 8 News, Kubasta pleaded no contest last Friday to illegal use of a tracking device in Wayne County Municipal Court.
Local store manager Randy Kendall said Pokémon cards had become extremely popular, with collectors closely following social media and other sources for information about upcoming restocks. "Pokémon is absolutely the hottest thing going," he says. "Facebook, Instagram – but especially TikTok and things like that. If you follow certain people, they will let you know when it’s going to drop. They will have links you can click to say supposedly this store is going to have them."
Pokémon cards continue to attract collectors, and rare cards were even used as a tool for money laundering a few years ago. More recently, Pokémon celebrated its 30th anniversary with a series of new releases.