A man from Southern California has been arrested for an unusual scam involving Lego sets, leading to charges related to theft.
According to the Irvine Police, 28-year-old Jarrell Augustine from Paramount was taken into custody on Tuesday after an inquiry into thefts occurring at various Target locations.
Authorities report that the scheme was executed over 70 times, resulting in around $34,000 worth of stolen items nationwide.
Interestingly, high-end Lego boxes lack serial numbers or activation locks, making them a target for crime.
Experts indicate there’s a “perfect storm” of circumstances, rendering Lego sets attractive targets for both petty thieves and organized crime rings.
Recently, law enforcement has expressed growing concerns regarding the rise of organized retail theft concerning Lego in Southern California and beyond.
Police claim Augustine purchased boxed Lego sets, took out valuable minifigures and select pieces, then stuffed the boxes with dried durum wheat pasta, returning them for refunds.
Target noticed a pattern of incidents and alerted detectives to investigate further.
By following surveillance footage, officers concluded that Augustine was behind what was dubbed a “Lego crime spree.” In a social media update infused with pasta puns, authorities commented on the “terrible plan” that “didn’t turn out well.” They remarked that detectives were quick to spring into action before arresting Augustine.
Body camera footage and surveillance clips show Augustine shopping for Lego, cementing the police’s case against him.
Images related to the investigation showed bags of Goya pasta reportedly used in the refunds, along with retrieved Lego components, including character figures from a Star Wars set.
Augustine has been booked into the Orange County Jail on charges of grand larceny.
In a humorous final remark, police warned, “If your master plan includes swapping linguine for Legos, we can guarantee your plan will be cooked al dente.”
