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

The suspect is accused of targeting Target stores across the U.S. and reselling the valuable merchandise.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:54pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a Lego minifigure part, such as a torso or head, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the theft of valuable Lego merchandise.A close-up of a stolen Lego piece highlights the growing problem of collectible toy theft.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 Lego sets have become a popular commodity among investors, leading to a rise in thefts of these valuable toys. The suspect's alleged actions highlight the growing problem of Lego theft and the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking down stolen goods that can easily be resold online.

The details

Surveillance cameras captured the suspect entering a Target store in Irvine, California, and grabbing two large Lego box sets before leaving. Irvine police say the man is accused of removing the valuable Lego pieces and minifigures and replacing them with dried pasta when returning the items to retailers. The suspect is wanted in connection with at least 70 thefts at Target stores across the U.S., totaling around $34,000 in stolen merchandise.

  • The suspect was arrested on April 17, 2026 in Orange County, California.
  • Last week, three people were arrested after allegedly stealing two truck trailers in California that contained pricey Legos.

The players

The Suspect

A 28-year-old man who is accused of stealing Lego merchandise worth around $34,000 from Target stores across the country.

Irvine Police

The law enforcement agency that arrested the suspect and is investigating the case.

Target

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

Joshua Hanlon

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

Jose Lopez, Ruben Lopez Flores, and Freddy Hernandez Polinar

Three people who were arrested last week for allegedly stealing two truck trailers in California that contained pricey Legos.

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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 of Beyond the Brick

What’s next

Investigators are continuing to look into the suspect's alleged involvement in additional Lego thefts at Target stores across the country. The suspect was booked into the Orange County Jail and faces charges of grand theft.

The takeaway

The arrest of this suspect highlights the growing problem of Lego theft, which has become a lucrative target for criminals due to the high value of collectible Lego sets. This case underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking down and recovering these stolen goods, which can easily be resold online.