Alabama correctional officer charged with theft of $200 of Pokémon cards while in uniform

Calhoun County Correctional Officer Josh Hardy was arrested this last Saturday, August 12th, after stealing approximately $200 USD worth of Pokémon cards from a local Walmart. Police apprehended Hardy at a nearby restaurant after he fled from the Walmart's loss prevention team on foot and placed him in Oxford City Jail. The local sheriff’s office reports that Hardy was seen with his uniform shirt inside out and badge still visible, opening several packs in the store and pocketing individual cards after leaving his shift at the Calhoun County Jail.

While no statement is available from Hardy, Pokémon cards can be a common target for theft, as the value of individual cards on the secondhand market can easily reach hundreds of US dollars. Bulbanews reported on an incident in which a collector of rare Pokémon cards was assaulted during the theft of their collection in 2021, the same year in which retailer Target stopped selling cards in its physical stores due to “unruly behavior by customers.”

Sheriff Matthew Wade reports that Hardy has been fired from his position as a prison guard with Calhoun County. “It is with great embarrassment that we have to report this incident…" said Sheriff Wade in a press release on Monday. "He has tarnished our agency and the image of all law enforcement.”