Crime Authorities bust LEGO theft ring, find over 2,800 toys at home in Long Beach, California - The Los Angeles Police Department first got wind of the theft ring in December when someone contacted them about a series of robberies from a store on North Gaffey Street in San Pedro.

Article
Archive

Two people have been charged in connection to a Southern California LEGO theft ring bust after authorities seized nearly 3,000 boxes of stolen LEGO toys.

The Los Angeles Police Department first got wind of the theft ring in December, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release. Someone contacted authorities about a series of robberies from a store on North Gaffey Street in San Pedro.

Loss prevention staff pointed out a woman, Blanca Gudino, to police in December in relation to the case, then on Tuesday LAPD members saw the same woman steal items from the same business’ Torrance and Lakewood locations, LAPD said.

Authorities claim she took the stolen LEGO toys to a man named Richard Siegel, who lives in Long Beach.

It was not immediately clear who is representing the pair in court.

lapdlegothefttweet.png
LAPD Tweet

Police secured a search warrant on Wednesday and searched the man’s home, where they found over 2,800 boxes of LEGO toys ranging from $20 to over $1,000. While at the scene, investigators saw people show up to buy the toys. They’d seen advertisements Siegel posted online.

Two face charges in connection to LEGO theft ring bust​

Police said Gudino was charged with grand theft and online records show she is being held on a $20,000 bond.

Siegel was charged with organized retail theft and has been released, online records show.

Authorities said LAPD’s Commercial Crimes Division, Organized Retail Theft Unit and the store’s loss prevention personnel were part of the bust.

They ask that anyone with information call Los Angeles Harbor Area detectives at (310) 726-7900.

newsrelease1.pngnewsrelease2.png
 
I miss Bionicles so much.
I miss the 2000's.
I hate the current time so much, bros.
I miss when Legos came in a nondescript big ass bucket that came with a booklet with a couple of pictures of houses as examples of things you maybe could build if all the pieces were in the bucket, let alone actual series like Bionicles. I feel fucking old.

But I also hate the current time so much, too. (:_(
 
I hate shoplifters, I really do - but I can't even blame them.
Look at what $50 gets you now.

View attachment 6065740
They aren't stealing them to use them. these are "value speculator" scumbags.
I was at the lego store yesterday. In a few years prices have gone up 40%, that's madness. Good that I only buy second hand and in bulks.
Part of the reason is more than likely a reaction to people buying and reselling individual parts for 20-1000 dollars on sites, part of it is due to "pandemic" shit. companies gave for increasing their prices drastically.

I miss when Legos came in a nondescript big ass bucket that came with a booklet with a couple of pictures of houses as examples of things you maybe could build if all the pieces were in the bucket, let alone actual series like Bionicles. I feel fucking old.

But I also hate the current time so much, too
I remember they had those for BIONICLE too for a bit, my family got me one of those for either my birthday or Christmas one year.
...Just looked it up as I was editing this post to add this reply and people want over 200 for the nondescript bionicle parts bin.
 
Last time I ever got legos they were gifted to me but, are children's toys worth this much??
The last few years the "value went up" due to a combo of specific "influencers" hyping shit up as rare or valuable and a new lego star wars game being announced which led to people gulping up and relisting figs spiking minifig prices to 2000 for figures from a single store exclusive set that wasn't even in the new game because some youtube guys said it was worth a lot. The minifig and bionicle market in particular has been nightmare levels of inflated since.
 
Back