LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Mo. — A Missouri man has been charged with theft and unlawful use of a weapon after allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars of Pokémon cards in January last year.
According to the Higginsville Police Department, Jonathan Vantine, 27 of Higginsville, Missouri, about three hours west of St. Louis, stole the Pokémon cards from Dollar General and Walmart on January 7, 2024.
Allegedly, Vantine and another man were seen on surveillance video stealing over $200 in Pokémon cards and candy from a Dollar General.
Court documents said surveillance footage showed Vantine walk behind the cashier’s counter, grabbing two display boxes of cards and walking out of the store while another man was a “watchout.”
Police noted Pokémon card theft as an on-going trend for shoplifting and contacted additional retail stores to locate the two men.
Vantine and the additional suspect were also located at a nearby Walmart before shoplifting at the Dollar General. A surveillance video showed them stealing $152 worth of cards and other items.
Three days later, on Jan. 10, police saw one of the men’s vehicles at a Pilot Travel Center in Higginsville, and both suspects were inside a McDonald’s.
Police searched their vehicle and found a large amount of Pokemon cards, among other stolen items, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a 22-caliber rifle.
Both men were arrested and taken to the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office. Vantine has been charged with two counts of stealing, two counts of second-degree burglary, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful use of a weapon.
He is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on March 17 at 9 a.m.