California man accused in $34K Lego theft scheme

Jarrelle Augustine allegedly replaced LEGO minifigures with pasta in elaborate retail fraud.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:58pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a LEGO minifigure's head partially obscured by dried pasta pieces, conceptually illustrating the bizarre nature of the alleged retail theft scheme.A recent wave of organized retail thefts targeting collectible LEGO sets has exposed the creative lengths some criminals will go to in order to steal and resell valuable merchandise.Paramount Today

Authorities in Paramount, California have arrested a 28-year-old man named Jarrelle Augustine for an alleged scheme to steal valuable LEGO minifigures and pieces from retail stores. Police say Augustine would purchase LEGO sets, remove the high-value components, and replace them with pasta before returning the tampered products.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of organized retail crime, where thieves target specific high-value merchandise like collectible toys and electronics to resell on the black market. The LEGO brand has been particularly impacted by these types of thefts in recent years.

The details

According to investigators, Augustine would allegedly buy LEGO sets from Target, remove the minifigures and other premium pieces, and then replace them with pieces of dried pasta before returning the tampered products. Police estimate the total value of the stolen LEGO components at around $34,000 over an unspecified period of time.

  • Augustine was arrested by Paramount police on April 15, 2026.

The players

Jarrelle Augustine

A 28-year-old resident of Paramount, California who is accused of an elaborate LEGO theft scheme.

Target

A major retail chain where Augustine allegedly purchased and returned the tampered LEGO sets.

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What they’re saying

“This is an incredibly bizarre case, even for us. We've seen some creative retail theft schemes, but replacing LEGO pieces with pasta is a new one.”

— Detective Samantha Flores, Paramount Police Department

What’s next

Augustine is currently being held on $50,000 bail and faces charges of grand theft and organized retail theft. If convicted, he could face up to 5 years in prison.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing problem of organized retail crime targeting high-value collectible merchandise like LEGO sets. It also demonstrates the creative and elaborate lengths some thieves will go to in order to steal and resell valuable items.