In brief
A significant haul of toys worth approximately A$250,000 was recovered from a home in Royal Park, Australia, leading to the arrest of a 41-year-old man. The seizures include 1,700 unopened Lego boxes, soft toys, water guns, and other branded merchandise, believed to have been intended for online resale. Authorities emphasize this operation points to a concerning trend in retail theft, which has become a global issue.
An Australian man is facing theft charges after police uncovered a significant trove of Lego and toys worth $250,000 (£120,800; $163,400) allegedly stolen from department stores in Adelaide.
About 2,500 items, including 1,700 unopened boxes of Lego, were found when South Australian police raided a Royal Park home on Saturday.
The haul - which police say was going to be sold online - was the largest seized during an operation targeting retail theft in the state, and so big that extra officers were called in to help remove the loot, which filled three truck loads.
The 41-year-old man charged over the stash will appear in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 30 September.
Apart from the Lego, other stolen items included soft toys, water guns and toy trucks with brands such as Pokémon, Barbie, Hello Kitty, and Thomas the Tank Engine.
The size of the haul is significant and indicates the depth of the alleged offending, John De Candia from South Australia Police said.
He added that the operation involves shops teaming up with police to catch alleged thieves, focusing on repeat offenders and those using violence to steal.
As the stolen items were believed to be bound for online sales, police urged consumers to avoid purchasing cheap goods from the web.
This type of theft is not victimless, De Candia warned. Those who purchase cheap goods from online sites are unwittingly facilitating this crime and we would urge them to consider this.
According to authorities, the operation has contributed to a drop in shop thefts in recent months across South Australia, with around 2,500 arrests made.
Retail crime has surged globally, with a recent survey showing UK retailers reported theft rose significantly, costing them an estimated £2 billion.
