4 middle-aged suspects had been arrested in Southern California this week when officers discovered them in possession of roughly $300,000 value of purloined Lego units, in accordance with the California Freeway Patrol.
Sure, Lego units. The little toy bricks that harm like hell if you step on them barefoot. Apparently, some folks like having them round a lot they’re keen to pay an astonishing worth for the privilege.
The suspects, who vary in age from 35 to 47, hit shops together with Goal, Dwelling Depot and Lowe’s seeking limited-edition field units of the toys, the CHP mentioned. Then they allegedly scattered their loot in 4 separate stash homes throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties the place California Freeway Patrol officers served search warrants on Tuesday.
Extremely, this isn’t an remoted incident. Related thefts have been reported in Philadelphia and Inexperienced Bay, Wis. A retailer in Las Vegas that opened in 2022 and makes a speciality of Lego units had been hit at the very least 4 instances by the tip of 2023 in what Inside Version dubbed a nationwide wave of “Lego Larceny.”
As unbelievable as it might appear, uncommon and exceptionally widespread Lego units commerce on-line like valuable steel or cryptocurrency.
Kits that flip into “Star Wars” spaceships, for instance, routinely promote for north of a thousand {dollars}. A set that turns into Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon fluctuates between $1,000 and $4,000, in accordance with the web site Work + Cash.
There isn’t a scarcity of on-line studies on Lego thievery — with robbers smashing by means of glass storefront doorways and stomping round toy outlets in masks and darkish hoodies. One vertically challenged bandit will be seen on safety video hopping up and down, determined to achieve essentially the most precious Lego packing containers saved on the highest shelf — like advantageous Scotch.
The 4 arrested in Southern California this week had been booked on prices associated to organized retail theft, grand theft and conspiracy.
You probably have details about suspiciously sourced Lego units, or some other sort of organized retail theft, you’ll be able to report it to the CHP right here.