Long Beach, CA, USA - June 5, 2024

Authorities in California have cracked down on a suspected Lego theft ring, resulting in the recovery of over 2,800 stolen Lego sets and the arrest of two individuals.

The arrests came after police discovered an extensive cache of Lego sets stacked to the ceiling inside a residence in Long Beach, just south of Los Angeles. Richard Siegel, 71, and Blanca Gudino, 39, were apprehended in connection with a series of organized retail thefts spanning several months, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The investigation was initiated in December following reports of thefts from a local store. Loss prevention personnel identified Gudino as a suspect, leading officers to observe her involvement in multiple theft incidents. Subsequently, detectives witnessed Gudino passing stolen items to Siegel at his Long Beach home.

Upon searching the residence, law enforcement officers uncovered thousands of boxes of Lego sets meticulously organized throughout the property. Potential buyers, lured by advertisements placed by Siegel on internet sales platforms, were also encountered at the scene during the search.

Siegel faces charges of organized retail theft, while Gudino is charged with grand theft. The arrests mark another significant crackdown on Lego thefts in California, following a similar incident in April where suspects were found in possession of approximately 300,000 dollars worth of stolen Lego merchandise.