Police in South Australia have arrested a 41-year-old man after uncovering a massive stash of Lego sets and toys worth about A$250,000 during a raid on a home in Royal Park, Adelaide.
Officers said about 2,500 items were found, including 1,700 unopened Lego boxes, along with soft toys, water guns, toy trucks, and branded items like Pokémon, Barbie, Hello Kitty, and Thomas the Tank Engine.
The toys, believed to have been stolen from department stores, were allegedly meant to be sold online. The raid, carried out on Saturday, was so large that police had to call in extra officers and use three trucks to move the items.
John De Candia of South Australia Police described the discovery as one of the biggest hauls linked to retail theft in the state.
“The size of the haul is significant and indicates the depth of the alleged offending,” De Candia said.
He explained that the raid was part of a joint operation between stores and police to target repeat offenders and those who use threats or violence while stealing.
Police have warned buyers to be cautious when purchasing cheap goods online.
“This type of theft is not victimless,” De Candia said. “Those who purchase cheap goods from online sites are unwittingly facilitating this crime and we would urge them to consider this.”
The suspect is expected to appear before the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on September 30.
Authorities noted that the operation has reduced shoplifting incidents in South Australia in recent months, leading to about 2,500 arrests.
Retail theft has been on the rise globally. A recent survey in the UK showed reported cases of shoplifting jumped from 16.7 million to 20.4 million within a year, costing businesses around £2 billion.
BBC
