Irvine police arrested a 28-year-old Paramount man accused of stealing about $34,000 worth of Lego sets through a series of fraudulent returns across the country, including cases in which boxes were filled with dry pasta instead of the original pieces.
The investigation began in December 2025 after a suspicious return at a Target store off Jamboree Road in Irvine, according to Officer Ziggy Azarcon. When loss prevention employees opened the box, they found items missing, including mini figures from the set.
Investigators linked the man to at least 70 similar cases at Target stores nationwide, Azarcon said.
Police said the man would buy Lego sets, remove valuable pieces — including collectible mini figures — and return the boxes to different stores for refunds.
In one Orange County case, a returned set contained bags of dry pasta instead of Lego pieces, intended to mimic the weight and sound of the original contents, Azarcon said.
-
Some boxed Lego sets tied to a 4,000 theft scheme were returned with dry pasta instead of the original pieces, Irvine police spokesman Ziggy Azarcon said. (Courtesy of the Irvine Police Department)
1 of 2
Some boxed Lego sets tied to a 4,000 theft scheme were returned with dry pasta instead of the original pieces, Irvine police spokesman Ziggy Azarcon said. (Courtesy of the Irvine Police Department)
About $4,000 of the total losses occurred in Orange County.
The suspect was later located in Paramount and arrested on Tuesday, April 14. A search of his vehicle and apartment turned up trash bags filled with Lego pieces believed to be connected with the case.
“We found Star Wars and Marvel sets, which are valuable on the secondary market,” Azarcon said.
It remains unclear whether the man intended to keep the items or resell them, Azarcon said.