Massive LEGO Theft Ring Busted in California, Suspect Arrested

Police in California have seized thousands of dollars worth of stolen LEGO and arrested one suspect in an elaborate organized retail theft and fencing operation, authorities said.

The Santa Rosa Police Department reported that detectives from its Property Crimes Investigations Team began investigating 39-year-old Robert Lopez in September. Investigators allege Lopez directed retail thieves to steal high-value LEGO sets, which he then purchased at reduced prices and resold for profit — sometimes breaking the sets apart to sell individual minifigures at inflated rates.

Over several weeks, investigators reviewed digital evidence, conducted surveillance, and coordinated with organized retail theft teams from Target and Walmart. Their findings indicated Lopez was running a coordinated operation targeting collectible LEGO items.

On October 13, detectives executed a search warrant at Lopez’s residence on Spyglass Road in Hidden Valley Lake, uncovering a large-scale LEGO reselling setup.

Living room and kitchen: tubs and bins filled with thousands of LEGO pieces
Hallways: unopened LEGO boxes
Garage: roughly 100 assembled figures, additional unopened sets, and dismantled packaging ready for resale
Individually packaged minifigures: ready for online or informal sales

Investigators noted the resale of stolen LEGO collectibles has become a growing concern due to their small size, high demand, and untraceable nature.

During the search, officers also discovered ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and two loaded firearms:

A pump-action pistol-grip shotgun with a drum-style magazine
An assault rifle with a high-capacity magazine
A loaded handgun in a bedroom lockbox

Lopez, a convicted felon, is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

He was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail on multiple felony charges, including:

Organized retail theft and receiving stolen property
Organizing or directing retail theft
Conspiracy to commit a felony
Three counts of felon in possession of a firearm
Felon in possession of ammunition
Possession of an assault rifle

Police recovered more than $6,000 in stolen LEGO products and digital evidence suggesting Lopez directed others to commit thefts on his behalf.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing as detectives work to identify additional suspects and determine which stores the recovered merchandise came from.