Man Accused of Stealing $34,000 in Legos, Swapping Pieces for Pasta

The suspect is wanted in connection with at least 70 thefts at Target stores across the U.S.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:25pm

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An extreme close-up of a pile of Lego bricks and minifigures, lit by a harsh, direct flash against a dark background, creating a stark, gritty investigative aesthetic.Stolen Lego pieces, stripped from their packaging and resold, expose the lucrative black market for collectible toys.Irvine Today

A 28-year-old man was arrested in Orange County, California for allegedly stealing Lego merchandise worth around $34,000 from Target stores across the country. The suspect is accused of removing valuable Lego pieces and minifigures from the boxes and replacing them with dried pasta before returning the items to retailers.

Why it matters

Collectible Legos have become a popular commodity among investors, leading to a rise in thefts of rare and valuable Lego sets and pieces. This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking and recovering these types of stolen goods, which are often quickly resold online with no way to trace their origins.

The details

Surveillance cameras captured the suspect entering a Target store in Irvine, California, grabbing two large Lego box sets, and then leaving the store. Irvine police said the man is accused of removing the valuable Lego pieces and minifigures from the boxes and, in some cases, replacing them with dried pasta before returning the items to retailers. Investigators said he is wanted in connection with at least 70 thefts at Target stores across the U.S.

  • The suspect was arrested on April 17, 2026 in Orange County, California.

The players

Irvine Police Department

The law enforcement agency that investigated the case and arrested the suspect.

Target

The retail chain that was targeted by the suspect, who is accused of stealing Lego merchandise from their stores across the country.

Joshua Hanlon

The host and owner of Beyond the Brick, the world's largest LEGO fan community, who provided insights on the challenges of tracking stolen Lego pieces.

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What they’re saying

“Particularly Facebook Marketplace, I think, is probably the most popular option these days. You see a lot of these thefts being listed on there. Pretty soon after they take place, they'll start to try to offload them.”

— Joshua Hanlon, Host and Owner, Beyond the Brick

What’s next

The suspect was booked at the Orange County Jail and is facing charges of grand theft. Investigators are working to determine if he is connected to any additional Lego thefts at other retail locations.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing problem of Lego theft, driven by the high value of collectible Lego sets and pieces. It underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking and recovering these types of stolen goods, which are often quickly resold online with no way to trace their origins.