In Stafford County, Virginia, an unusual incident occurred involving a person attempting to commit a theft for Pokemon and Magic cards – a real-life heist with a virtual twist.
The individual in question, identified as 33-year-old Stephen Philpott, didn’t quite manage to “catch ’em all.” Instead, he found himself being caught and apprehended by law enforcement rather than securing the collectibles.
Philpott’s target was a variety of trading cards, including Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, with a total value exceeding $1,100, all housed within a local Target store.
Alerted by vigilant employees who noticed a “larceny in progress,” law enforcement was promptly notified. A deputy, J.A. Brooks, was dispatched to the scene to address the situation. Contrary to popular gaming trends, Deputy Brooks wasn’t engaged in playing Pokemon Go; he was responding to a real-life incident.
Deputies positioned themselves near the store’s exit, anticipating the suspect’s attempt to leave with the stolen merchandise. Philpott’s exit was far from dramatic, as he surrendered without much resistance after taking just a few steps away from the store. The sheriff’s office humorously recounted the incident, stating that Philpott’s flight from the scene was remarkably brief, leading to his swift apprehension.
Philpott appeared unaware of the legal implications of his actions. In Virginia, stealing goods valued at over $1,000 results in an automatic elevation of the charge from misdemeanor to felony grand larceny. The sheriff’s office playfully elaborated that the total worth of the stolen items activated Deputy Brooks’ metaphorical “trap card,” ultimately leading to the grand larceny charge for the 33-year-old.
However, Philpott’s legal troubles were not limited to this incident alone. He was already a wanted individual, with outstanding warrants from Prince William County for grand larceny, and from Stafford County for failure to appear. As described by the sheriff’s office, Philpott’s attempts to gather, catch, and acquire cards took an ironic twist, resulting in him gathering, catching, and facing all his outstanding warrants instead.
Philpott’s efforts to emulate the fictional character Ash Ketchum could potentially result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years, highlighting the serious consequences of his actions.
Martin Dover
Martin Dover was born in England and holds a degree in English literature from the University of Sussex. Martin's passion for language and literature ignited at an early age. Martin is known for his insightful analysis and eloquent writing style. He actively engages in literary discussions and has contributed articles to a variety of publications varying from the serious to the downright stupid.
