He stole Lego pieces and put dried pasta in the box, police say

Key Points:

• Irvine police arrested Jarrelle Augustine, 28, on suspicion of stealing Lego pieces by removing them from boxes and replacing them with dried pasta before returning the sets to Target for refunds, potentially causing $34,000 in losses nationwide.
• Augustine was linked to about $4,000 in stolen or damaged merchandise from Orange County Target stores since November, with investigators finding enough contraband Lego pieces at his residence to fill two garbage bags.
• The theft method was unique, as swapped Lego boxes filled with dried pasta made similar sounds to genuine sets, but targeting high-value Lego pieces and collectible mini-figures is part of a broader trend of Lego theft rings across the U.S.
• Similar cases include a former banker in Charlotte convicted for fencing stolen Lego products worth over $100,000, and a Los Angeles Lego theft ring where thousands of boxes were stockpiled and sold via online ads.
• Authorities have uncovered multiple Lego theft incidents nationwide, often involving high-value themed pieces from franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and Harry Potter, with suspects reselling stolen goods on secondary markets.