Credit: Warner Bros.Two men have been arrested in connection with a case in Southern California involving nearly 3,000 LEGO sets, some worth more than $1,000 each.
Two people suspected of stealing more than 2,800 sets of LEGO toys from various retail stores across the South Bay and Long Beach areas of the Golden State were arrested earlier this week after a lengthy six-month investigation.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, two people were arrested on June 5 in connection with the theft of almost 3,000 boxes of LEGO building brick sets. The stolen LEGO sets were amassed as the alleged criminals targeted retailers in the South Bay and Long Beach, California, communities.
Some of the stolen sets are worth more than $1,000 each.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Blanca Gudino, 39, of Lawndale, California, and Richard Siegel, 71, of Long Beach, California, were arrested on Wednesday, June 5, following an investigation that has been ongoing for six months that led investigators to believe that the two are the culprits behind numerous reports about the stolen goods.
Per the Orange County Register:
The investigation began in December following a series of thefts at a retail store in the 1700 block of North Gaffey Street in San Pedro, California. Loss prevention staff identified Gudino as the suspect, the police said.
On June 4, police say they observed Gudino stealing items from the same retailer in Torrance and Lakewood.
The LEGO sets were then brought by Gudino to Siegel’s residence in Long Beach, police said.
A search warrant was served at the Long Beach residence the following day, and more than 2,800 boxes of LEGO toys, ranging in value from $20 to more than $1,000, were found. While authorities were investigating the residence, potential buyers for the LEGOs, lured by advertisements Siegel placed on the internet, arrived to buy toys at the house.
Gudino has been booked on suspicion of grand theft, as some of the stolen LEGO set types are worth more than $1,000 each. Siegel has been booked on charges of organized retail theft.
Anyone with information on the alleged thefts is encouraged to contact Harbor Area detectives by calling 310-726-7900. During non-business hours or on the weekends, anyone with information can call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).