Lego as a target: Thefts rise as bricks become top stolen goods
Associated with children and big kids, Lego sets have become a "gold mine" for... thieves. In the United States, they are among the most frequently stolen items.
The prices of Lego bricks can be very high. Some sets can cost over $100 (CAD 136) to even $1,000 (CAD 1360) or more. CNN reports that these most expensive sets often fall victim to theft, both by individual thieves in stores and larger organized retail crime groups.
They are loved not only by customers but also by thieves
Stolen Lego sets can be quickly sold online, and proving that they are stolen is hard. Slightly damaged and scratched bricks are often sold for near retail prices. More damaged sets are offered at half price, which still makes them a profitable haul for thieves.
The American station reports that there have been Lego thefts in recent weeks in several states. In Philadelphia, police reported recent months of Lego set thefts from retail chains like Barnes & Noble and Target. The value of stolen sets ranged from $250 (CAD 340) to even $1,000 (CAD 1360) each.
Meanwhile, in California, an organized gang was discovered, and police arrested two people connected to the group, who stole thousands of Lego toys from several stores in southern California.
In Los Angeles, the police arrested two people from a gang specializing in Lego theft. Officers found more than 2,800 boxes of bricks valued at $20 (CAD 27) to over $1,000 (CAD 1360) each.
The colorful plastic toy bricks are a gold mine for criminals - evaluates the station.
One of the most frequently stolen products
Experts interviewed by CNN point out that Lego is in the top ten most frequently stolen goods in retail stores. It is among the top alongside Apple products, handbags, branded jeans, and designer shoes.
– We see Lego toys as one of the more frequently stolen items in our area. Any retailer selling the brand is susceptible to Lego theft, but we also have a couple of Lego-specific secondhand stores that have popped up as resellers. They’re being targeted – says Casey Slaughter, a police captain from Wichita, Kansas, in an interview with the station.
