Happens all the time. Someone buys a ham radio then asks, "Now, what?" They buy a "shortwave" radio and ask, "What's there to listen to?" Someone buys a scanner then asks how to program it for the local PD (which may very well be encrypted).
I suppose he could have bought it then the PD went encrypted a year or two later. But, that's the risk you take. Thankfully I have broad listening habits myself