Legos It’s everywhere these days, including criminal enterprises. Earlier this week, the California Organized Retail Crime Task Force conducted a series of raids on illegal fencing operations at four buildings in Los Angeles and Orange counties.During these raids, authorities discovered a series of Lego sets Estimated total value is $300,000.
A variety of items were stolen from well-known retailers such as Target and Lowe’s, but Lego bricks were said to account for the majority of stolen products.according to cbs newsThere are so many boxes that they line the walls of the building and, in some cases, reach the ceiling. (As a former retail worker, let me tell you: the nightmare scenario of having to pull out the middle of these stacks.) The more elaborate the LEGO set, the more expensive it gets, and the box takes up a lot of space, so it’s It’s easy to imagine those buildings must have been packed with people.
Four people, ranging in age from 35 to 47, were arrested in connection with the fencing ring. The suspect was subsequently charged with organized retail theft, grand larceny and criminal conspiracy.according to Los Angeles Timesthe four would go from store to store, with two of them swiping limited-edition sets and then hiding them in various safe houses before selling them in person or online.
If you didn’t know, this has actually been going on for a while. December 2023 Internal version Published an article about the Lego black market, where thieves steal Lego bricks during the holidays and sell them at reasonable prices, especially limited edition sets. A Lego store in Las Vegas was attacked four times within a month of opening, when the store owner said $2,000 worth of products were stolen.
Similar theft gangs also exist, such as Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon, So it’s not surprising to hear this happening to LEGO. Some retailers have tried to add some friction to the process, primarily by locking the toys in the back of a box or wrapping them with a safety cord, and you have to remove the toys directly at the checkout.
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