Four middle-aged suspects were arrested in Southern California this week when officers found them in possession of roughly $300,000 worth of purloined Lego sets, according to the California Highway Patrol. Yes, Lego sets. The little toy bricks that hurt like hell when you step on them barefoot. Apparently, some people like having them around so much they’re willing to pay an astonishing price for the privilege.
A store in Las Vegas that opened in 2022 and specializes in Lego sets had been hit at least four times by the end of 2023 in what Inside Edition dubbed a national wave of “Lego Larceny.” As unbelievable as it may seem, rare and exceptionally popular Lego sets trade online like precious metal or cryptocurrency. Kits that turn into 'Star Wars' spaceships, for example, routinely sell for north of $1,000.