#1 out of 5
crime1d ago
Irvine ‘pasta bandit’ accused of swapping LEGO sets for noodles in $34K scheme
- A Paramount man allegedly stole LEGO boxes and replaced them with pasta at Target, totaling about $34,000.
- Police described the plan as a 'pasta-tively terrible plan' and a 'bad build' in their investigation.
- Investigators linked Augustine through surveillance video and store records, leading to his arrest.
- The case underscores concerns about organized retail crime targeting high-value LEGO sets.
- Augustine was booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of grand theft.
- Authorities noted the use of pasta, specifically durum wheat semolina, in the alleged swaps.
- The incident drew attention to loss prevention practices and the challenge of LEGO-related thefts.
- Irvine Police Department publicly commented on the bungled scheme with light-hearted phrasing.
- The story has been shared widely online, illustrating significant public interest in the unusual theft method.
- Authorities emphasize LEGO crime as part of broader retail crime trends in Southern California.
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