Pokémon collector pleads no contest after using GPS tracker to follow card deliveries

A 72-year-old Pokémon collector in Ohio has pleaded no contest after using a GPS tracker to monitor the movements of a delivery driver in an attempt to find out when Pokémon card shipments were being delivered.

Kent Kubasta, of Medina, was arrested in June after the delivery driver discovered a GPS tracking device attached to her vehicle. According to police records, Kubasta admitted to placing the tracker on the car so he could determine where and when Pokémon card deliveries were being made.

Kubasta entered a no-contest plea Friday in Wayne County Municipal Court to a charge of illegal use of a tracking device. He declined to comment when contacted by FOX 8 News.

The incident highlights the intense demand for Pokémon cards, which have become increasingly valuable among collectors. Retailers regularly receive new shipments that can attract long lines, with some customers seeking to buy cards for resale on the secondary market.

Randy Kendall, manager of the collectible store Operation Fandom in Wooster, said some retailers can see lines of 30 to 40 customers or more when new cards arrive. Major retail chains can attract even larger crowds.

The popularity of the cards has also led collectors to search for information about upcoming deliveries through social media and personal contacts. Kendall said collectors use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to find out when stores are expected to receive new stock.

Some Pokémon cards can command significant prices on the secondary market. Kendall recalled seeing a collector offer $125,000 for a single card.

Retailers often impose limits on the number of packs or boxes each customer can purchase, prompting some collectors to bring additional people with them so they can buy more cards.

According to Kendall, however, much of the information collectors seek can already be found through online groups and social media, making the use of a tracking device unnecessary.