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NAPLES, Fla. (WFLA) — “It’s a real-life ‘Gotta catch ’em all.'”
A man was busted in the middle of trying to steal thousands of dollars worth of Pokémon cards last week, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said.
Just after midnight on March 24, deputies responded to a burglary alarm at Gorka’s Poke Barn in North Naples business, to find the back partially open and the power cut.
Francisco Alvarez, 34, of Bonita Springs was found with three bags containing approximately $15,000 worth of Pokémon trading cards, along with other merchandise.
It was around 2 a.m. when body camera video from the sheriff’s office caught the moment deputies stopped Alvarez mid-burglary.
The sheriff’s office said Alvarez was a regular at the shop. According to NBC affiliate WBBH, he was even on a first-name basis with the owner and other customers. However, Alvarez had provided the sheriff’s office with two fake names, before revealing his real identity.
“Good luck opening Pokemon cards in jail,” the owner of Gorka’s Poke Barn, Justin Ghorka, told WBBH.
Alvarez told deputies that he with familiar with the products he was stealing and had planned to resell them, an arrest affidavit said.
The owner told the outlet that Alvarez apologized to him as he was getting arrested. The suspect had also cut the store’s locks and had a massive grinder.
“I hope they lock away the key, man. Stay in there, man,” one customer said. “Enjoy your Pokemon cards in there.”
Alvarez was arrested and charged with felony burglary, giving a false ID to officers, grand theft, tampering with utilities and possession of burglary tools.