I went to Walmart and decided to pick up an Evolutions booster pack. Nearly all the packs they carried from any set were obviously opened by thieves/customers except for one Evolutions pack so I didn't really have a choice. Back home, when I opened the pack, I noticed some cards were loose, which really bummed me out because it meant someone went through the cards and stole the rares. I don't even know how that's possible since the cardboard was still glued together. The packaging was cut very neatly as if an experienced thief had used a tool to see the cards without damaging the cardboard. I felt robbed from my purchase, but there were still 10 cards (and the code) in the pack so I decided to check them out. I assumed they must have been after Charizard, EXes or full arts and this pack was a dud so they didn't steal anything.
I was wrong. I got Misty's determination and a Venusaur EX (not full art), the two cards I was looking for. Score. Still, now I know to avoid Walmart or any store that doesn't secure their packs. When I was a kid, packs didn't come in any extra cardboard or plastic packaging and theft wasn't an issue at all. What happened since 2000?