A father left his six-year-old daughter unattended in a Target line in Charleston, South Carolina for over an hour while waiting to purchase Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Figure Collection boxes after midnight. Police arrested him after witnesses grew concerned about the child. According to Live 5 WCSC, the man gave his daughter a pillow and blanket before leaving her asleep in line. He reportedly told law enforcement he had gone home while instructing his daughter to hold his spot. The girl was unharmed and placed in emergency protective custody with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
The incident reflects ongoing chaos tied to demand for sought-after Pokémon card products. Scalper-fueled competition has spawned fights between customers, caused shortages for genuine fans, and triggered criminal activity including burglaries and an illegal gambling operation in Bexar County, Texas that used Pokémon cards to circumvent prize caps.