Man Arrested for Nationwide Lego Theft Scheme

Suspect replaced Lego pieces with dried pasta at 70 Target stores across the country.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:32pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a Lego piece and a piece of dried pasta placed side-by-side against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the alleged Lego theft scheme.A close-up view of the alleged substitution of Lego pieces with dried pasta, exposing the suspect's brazen retail theft scheme.Los Angeles Today

Police in Southern California have arrested a 28-year-old man from Paramount, California named Jarrelle Augustine, who is suspected of replacing Lego pieces with dried pasta at 70 different Target stores across the United States.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of organized retail crime, where thieves target high-value items like Legos to resell on the black market. The large scale of this alleged scheme, spanning 70 different stores nationwide, demonstrates the coordination and planning involved in these types of crimes.

The details

According to authorities, Jarrelle Augustine would allegedly replace Lego sets with dried pasta in order to steal the valuable toy pieces and resell them. The Irvine Police Department arrested Augustine on suspicion of grand theft.

  • The alleged thefts took place over an unspecified period of time at 70 different Target stores nationwide.

The players

Jarrelle Augustine

A 28-year-old man from Paramount, California who was arrested by the Irvine Police Department on suspicion of grand theft for allegedly replacing Lego pieces with dried pasta at 70 Target stores across the country.

Irvine Police Department

The law enforcement agency that arrested Jarrelle Augustine for the alleged Lego theft scheme.

Target

The retail chain that was allegedly targeted by Jarrelle Augustine's Lego theft scheme, with 70 of its stores nationwide impacted.

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What’s next

Authorities are continuing to investigate the full scope of Augustine's alleged theft scheme and whether any accomplices were involved.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the lengths that organized retail criminals will go to steal high-value merchandise, and the need for increased security measures and collaboration between law enforcement and retailers to combat these types of sophisticated theft operations.