By Don Sweeney
The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.)
SANTA ROSA, Calif. — An investigation into a retail theft ring led officers to a house filled with tens of thousands of stolen Legos worth an estimated $6,000, California police reported.
Investigators suspected a Lake County man of directing others to steal expensive Lego sets that he purchased at reduced prices and then resold at inflated prices, Santa Rosa police said in a Wednesday, Oct. 15, news release.
An Oct. 13 search of a Hidden Valley Lake home in Lake County uncovered loose Legos and packaged Lego sets, all stolen, police said.
“The living room was filled with tubs, bins, and desks covered in loose LEGO pieces, along with numerous unopened boxes of new LEGO sets,” police said.
“In the kitchen, thousands more pieces were scattered, and hundreds of disassembled LEGO minifigures were found with bodies separated from heads, which were neatly organized by facial expression,” police said.
More boxes, tubs and bins of Legos were found in the hallway and garage, police said. They also found collectible Lego figurines packaged in small bags.
Investigators also found ammunition, high-capacity magazines and several firearms in the home, police said.
Robert Lopez, 39, of Lake County, faces charges of organized retail theft, conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm and other charges, police said.
“If he can walk across his house barefoot, he should get a ‘get out of jail free’ card,” read one comment on the post.
“Imagine going to jail for stealing Legos,” read another comment.
Santa Rosa is about a 55-mile drive northwest from San Francisco .
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