Police in Los Angeles find 2,800 stolen Lego sets

Two people were arrested in California as part of a suspected Lego theft ring after police found more than 2,800 stolen sets.

Police said Friday they found boxes of Lego bricks stacked to the ceiling in a man’s home in Long Beach, south of Los Angeles.

The toys ranged in price from $20 to over $1,000 (£16 to over £786).

Richard Siegel, 71, and Blanca Gudino, 39, were arrested in connection with a series of organized shoplifting incidents dating back several months, according to Los Angeles police.

Authorities began investigating in December after a store reported a series of thefts. The store’s anti-theft personnel identified Gudino as a suspect, police said.

Officials said they observed Ms. Gudino stealing items from the same store at several locations this week and then delivering the kits to Mr. Siegel at his Long Beach home.

On Wednesday, detectives searched the house and found more than 2,800 boxes of Lego bricks. During the search, police said, potential buyers of the toys came to the house, “attracted by advertisements that Siegel had placed on Internet sales sites.”

It was not clear whether Mr. Siegel and Ms. Gudino had lawyers.

Photos from the investigation show Lego sets carefully arranged in a house, with the boxes obscuring artwork on the walls and a fireplace.

The Legos included popular sets from the Star Wars franchise, such as the Millennium Falcon, which sells for nearly $850 (£668) online, and R2-D2, which costs between $100 and $200 (£79 and £157) online. There were also sets from the Lord of the Rings and Back to the Future franchises.

Siegel faces one count of organized shoplifting, and Gudino faces one count of grand larceny.

Expensive Lego bricks have become a popular target for thieves, especially since the sets have evolved from children’s toys to a popular hobby for adults.

In April, four suspects were arrested after authorities found about $300,000 worth of stolen Lego items, according to the California Highway Patrol. The suspects are accused of stealing Lego sets for cars, motorcycles, Star Wars items and Minecraft products to resell.

Also in Southern California this year, over $100,000 worth of Lego bricks were stolen from Bricks & Minifigs, a specialty store that sells new and used Lego bricks, according to BBC news partner CBS News.