On June 17, 2025, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of an Oakland, California, man accused of stealing nearly $10,000 worth of Nintendo Switch games from seven public library branches between April and June. The suspect faces 12 felony charges, including burglary and committing a felony while out on bail, highlighting a rare case of targeted library theft.
Authorities believe the suspect deliberately targeted Marin County libraries for their Nintendo Switch game collections, which have grown as libraries aim to attract younger patrons. The thefts, spanning multiple branches, involved an estimated 150+ games, given typical prices of $40-$60 per title. It’s unclear if the stolen items included games for the recently launched Nintendo Switch 2.
A man has been arrested for stealing around $10,000 worth of Switch games from local libraries pic.twitter.com/dydwwjsZ90
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) June 24, 2025The Sheriff’s Office has not disclosed specific titles stolen or whether any games have been recovered. The suspect’s motives, whether for personal use or resale, remain under investigation.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasised the importance of protecting public resources, stating, “Our libraries are pillars of the community and must be safeguarded for everyone to enjoy.” Libraries have increasingly stocked video games to engage younger audiences, but the popularity of the Nintendo Switch, boosted by the Switch 2 release, may have inadvertently made them targets for theft.
Arrestan a un hombre por robar aproximadamente 10.000 dólares en juegos de Nintendo Switch – https://t.co/F0Ljk52HQp pic.twitter.com/bcwIGGu2ju
— Nintenderos (@Nintenderos) June 23, 2025The suspect’s 12 felony charges reflect the severity of the crime, compounded by his alleged actions while on bail for prior offences. Authorities continue their investigation to determine the full scope of the thefts and any potential accomplices. The Sheriff’s Office has called for public support to protect community assets like libraries, urging vigilance to prevent similar incidents.
