by Sharelle B. McNair
April 21, 2026
Authorities mentioned this was nationwide scheme.
A California man has been dubbed the “Lego Bandit” after being accused of a nationwide scheme through which he stole Legos, stuffed the bins with pasta, after which returned them for a revenue, CBS Information stories.
Jarrelle Augustine, 28, was arrested by the Irvine Police Division for allegedly stealing $34,000 value of high-end Lego units and changing the small plastic bricks with dry pasta, which feels like Legos when shaken.
“One of many instances that occurred right here in Orange County, they shared that they opened the field and as a substitute of Legos, they discovered luggage of dry pasta,” Officer Ziggy Azarcon mentioned.
Azarcon mentioned a number of the units, which featured themes corresponding to Marvel and Star Wars, had been costly. Augustine allegedly acquired refunds at Goal places in Costa Mesa, Irvine and Westminster and likewise had ties to instances in Texas, Tennessee, New Jersey, and Florida.
In response to Fox Information, retailer surveillance footage exhibits the suspect taking Lego units from a retailer shelf and strolling out.
Augustine was arrested at his Los Angeles County house, the place a number of packages of Lego piece had been discovered.
In a Fb publish, the Irvine Police Division offered the case with humor.: “In case your grasp plan includes swapping LEGOs for linguine, we will promise your plan shall be cooked al dente.”
The favored toy model has been round since 1932, however has turn out to be a phenomenon amongst adults in recent times. Celebrities like Chloe Bailey are sometimes seen on social media constructing lavish displays.
On different social media platforms like X, customers referred to Augustine as “sensible” for his intelligent scheme, however want such a plan had been put to raised use.
“That’s sensible… It’s unsuitable, in fact. However think about if this individual might use his thoughts for good and never evil,” one person mentioned.
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