Man in US accused of stealing $34,000 worth of Lego and returning boxes filled with pasta

18 Apr 2026 • 11:54 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Man in US accused of stealing $34,000 worth of Lego and returning boxes filled with pasta

  • Jarrelle Augustine, 28, has been arrested in Irvine, California, for allegedly stealing over $30,000 worth of Lego.
  • Augustine is accused of replacing Lego bricks with dried pasta inside the boxes before returning them for refunds.
  • Investigators link Augustine to at least 70 Lego thefts across multiple US states, including California, Texas, Tennessee, New Jersey, and Florida.
  • Police found high-value Star Wars and Marvel Lego sets, consistent with the thefts, at Augustine's apartment.
  • Augustine faces charges of grand theft, with police highlighting the unusual nature of the crime in a social media post.

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