PORTLAND, Oregon — In July, police in Springfield, Oregon recovered $200,000 worth of stolen Lego sets. In Bend, officers arrested a man after he tried to sell hundreds of dollars in Legos to an undercover detective. An investigation in Puyallup, Washington led to the arrest of two men accused of buying and selling stolen Legos.
Throughout the Northwest and across the country, police are finding stolen Lego sets, often collectively worth thousands of dollars. So, what’s up with all these stolen Legos?
To find out, KGW looked through court records, crime reports, bodycam video and police evidence.
Who is stealing Lego sets?
Police say Legos are being targeted by both organized crime rings and individual shoplifters. Often, thieves steal to feed a drug habit.
“They need to get cash every day to get their next fix,” said Chief Andrew Shearer of the Springfield Police Department. “You have to turn and burn and steal things to make cash to buy the drugs.”
In February, police in Bend stopped a man who allegedly stole Lego sets from a Target store. KGW obtained body-worn camera footage of the police interview through a public records request.
“Why did you jack Legos from Target?” a police officer asked the man in the store parking lot.
“Because I’m homeless,” the suspect responded. “Just trying to use it to make some money to be able to sleep at a hotel.”
Why Lego sets?
Legos are popular among thieves because of their street value. The toys are easy to sell and hard to trace. Police reports showed stolen Lego sets listed on Facebook Marketplace and other online platforms. Often, they can be resold at close to the retail price, if in mint condition and unopened.
How are Legos being stolen?
Retail theft is nothing new. Over the past decade, KGW has reported on thieves who ripped off Lego sets from local shops and big box retailers.
Some were sophisticated operations involving criminals who swapped out bar codes, while other criminals just walked out the front door.
In July, police in Springfield recovered a massive haul of stolen Lego sets allegedly ripped off from Target, Fred Meyer, Walmart and Barnes & Noble stores. According to investigators, Brick Builders, a store in Eugene, paid criminals cash for Lego sets, knowing the merchandise was stolen.
“We talked to numerous people and almost every person that came out with Legos mentioned Brick Builders, like clockwork, every time,” said Sgt. Kyle Potter of Springfield police. “At some point it was just too much to ignore.”
What can be done to stop Lego theft?
Many large retailers lock up their Lego sets or use anti-theft devices, such as spider wrap. Spider wrap prevents thieves from opening Lego sets and removing the pieces. It also contains a device that can be detected by monitors located near the store entrance or exit in the event someone tries to steal the box of Legos.
Consumers can help too. Deeply discounted or suspicious-looking Lego sets found online or elsewhere are probably stolen, so don’t buy them.