Australian Man Faces Theft Charges After Police Uncover Massive Lego and Toy Collection
In a shocking turn of events, an Australian man is now facing theft charges after police stumbled upon a jaw-dropping collection of Lego and toys worth a staggering $250,000 (£120,800; $163,400) allegedly stolen from department stores in Adelaide.
About 2,500 items were discovered, with a whopping 1,700 unopened boxes of Lego among the loot, during a raid on a Royal Park home by South Australian police over the weekend. The sheer scale of the haul, intended to be sold online, prompted authorities to call in extra officers to assist in removing the three truck loads of stolen goods.
The 41-year-old man implicated in the theft will have his day in court at the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 30 September. Alongside the Lego, the stolen items included a variety of toys such as soft toys, water guns, and toy trucks featuring popular brands like Pokémon, Barbie, Hello Kitty, and Thomas the Tank Engine.
“The size of the haul is significant and indicates the depth of the alleged offending,” stated John De Candia from South Australia Police. He emphasized that the operation, a collaboration between shops and law enforcement, targets not only repeat offenders but also those who resort to violence and threats during theft.
With the stolen items suspected to be destined for online sales, police issued a warning to consumers against purchasing cheap goods from the internet. “This type of theft is not victimless,” De Candia cautioned. “Those who purchase cheap goods from online sites are unwittingly facilitating this crime and we would urge them to consider this.”
Police revealed that the operation has led to a decrease in shop thefts in recent months in South Australia, with approximately 2,500 arrests made by officers. The global trend of retail crime escalating has been evident, with reports from retailers in the UK showing a rise in customer theft, costing an estimated £2bn in the 12 months leading up to September 2024. – BBC
