The Irvine Police Department says a California man has been arrested after allegedly carrying out a nationwide scheme involving stolen LEGO sets replaced with pasta inside retail stores.
According to investigators, 28-year-old Jarrelle Augustine would buy LEGO sets from Target, open the boxes, remove the valuable pieces and minifigures, and then refill the packaging with dried pasta before returning them for refunds. The altered boxes would then be placed back into circulation, leaving unsuspecting customers with worthless contents.
Authorities believe the operation spanned at least 70 Target locations across multiple states, with total losses estimated at around $34,000. The scale and repetition of the method turned what initially appeared to be isolated incidents into a coordinated pattern.
Surveillance footage from stores helped identify the suspect, showing him handling LEGO boxes before leaving the premises. Police later tracked him down and arrested him on April 14. Bodycam footage shows officers detaining him inside his vehicle before taking him into custody.
He has been charged with grand theft and booked into Orange County Jail. Investigators say the case was built through a combination of store surveillance, pattern tracking, and coordinated efforts between locations.
Authorities noted that while retail theft schemes often evolve, this case stood out due to its unusual method and nationwide reach.