California police have arrested a man for allegedly leading a group that stole Legos. Investigators found tens of thousands of Lego pieces and complete sets at his house, indicating a carefully planned operation to resell the stolen items.
Detectives with the Santa Rosa Police Department found a large collection of LEGOs on Monday at a property in Lake County, north of San Francisco. The collection included loose bricks, LEGO figures, and many unopened sets. Investigators shared photos showing hundreds of figures organized by expression and boxed sets stacked neatly along the walls.
Robert Lopez, 39, faces charges of organized retail theft and conspiracy. Police say he led a scheme where people stole high-value Lego sets from stores like Walmart and Target. He would then buy the stolen sets at a lower price and resell them online for a profit. During a search, officers also discovered guns in a safe, including a loaded assault rifle and a shotgun.
Police describe “systematic sorting” and resale operation
Santa Rosa police believe the setup indicated someone was organizing and likely reselling stolen Lego sets. They estimate the seized Lego collection to be worth more than $6,000.
Police say the investigation, which began in September, is still active as they work to find additional suspects and the stores affected. If found guilty of California’s organized retail theft laws, Lopez could face up to three years in prison.
The market for collecting Lego sets has grown a lot recently, with some rare minifigures selling for thousands of dollars. Will Jensen, from brickLAB in Frisco, Texas, explained to *The New York Times* that this thriving resale market is unfortunately making Lego theft more common. He compared collecting Legos to collecting items like baseball cards, Pokemon cards, or art – things people value and are willing to pay a lot for.
California has seen a rise in thefts of valuable Lego sets. Last year, one store, Bricks & Minifigs, lost over $100,000 worth of merchandise to burglars. Police believe these sets are attractive to thieves because they’re small, popular, and hard to track, making them a common target for organized crime.
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2025-10-19 19:18