Two people were apprehended in California in connection with a suspected Lego theft ring after police discovered over 2,800 stolen sets. Police reported on Friday that they found boxes of Lego stacked to the ceiling inside a man’s residence in Long Beach, located just south of Los Angeles.
The stolen toys ranged in price from $20 to over $1,000. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Richard Siegel, 71, and Blanca Gudino, 39, were arrested for their involvement in a series of organized retail thefts that had been ongoing for several months.
Detectives searched the home on Wednesday and found over 2,800 boxes of Lego
Authorities began their investigation in December following a report from a store about a series of thefts. The store’s loss prevention team identified Gudino as a suspect, police said. Officers observed Gudino taking items from the same retailer in various locations this week and then delivering the sets to Siegel at his Long Beach home. Detectives searched the house on Wednesday and found over 2,800 boxes of Lego.
While officers were searching, police reported that potential buyers, “lured by advertisements placed by Siegel on internet sales sites,” arrived at the home. It was unclear whether Siegel and Gudino had legal representation. Photos from the investigation showed Lego sets meticulously organized in the house, with boxes covering artwork on the walls and a fireplace.
The Lego sets included popular collections from the Star Wars franchise, such as the Millennium Falcon, which sells for nearly $850 online, and R2-D2, priced between $100 and $200 online. There were also sets from the Lord of the Rings and Back to the Future franchises. Siegel is facing a charge of organized retail theft, while Gudino is charged with grand theft. Expensive Lego sets have become a popular target for thieves, as the sets have transitioned from children’s toys to popular adult hobbies. Local media have documented thefts in Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and Florida.
In April, four suspects were arrested after authorities discovered approximately $300,000 in stolen Lego merchandise, according to the California Highway Patrol. The suspects were accused of stealing Lego sets for cars, motorcycles, Star Wars items, and Minecraft products to resell them. Also in Southern California this year, more than $100,000 worth of Lego was stolen from the retailer Bricks & Minifigs, a specialty store selling new and used Lego, according to BBC news partner CBS News.