Man Accused of Stealing $34,000 Worth of LEGOs From Target in Scheme That Involved Pasta

You won’t believe this! The Irvine Police in California caught a guy who was stealing LEGOs from Target stores all over the country. But here’s the really weird part: he wasn’t just taking them, he was replacing the LEGOs with bags of pasta! Can you imagine? It caused over $34,000 in losses for the stores, and the whole thing is just… bizarre. It’s become a huge joke among LEGO fans, and the internet is full of pasta-related puns. It’s honestly the strangest crime I’ve ever heard of!

Most people think thieves go after expensive items like jewelry or cars, but LEGO collectors know that large LEGO sets can cost a lot of money – sometimes hundreds of dollars. Because of their value, LEGO sets have been stolen before. However, a recent theft is particularly strange and stands out even among other LEGO-related crimes.

LEGO Thief Used Pasta to Commit Crimes

Irvine Police announced on Instagram on April 16th that they’d arrested 28-year-old Jarrelle Augustine for a strange series of thefts at over 70 Target stores nationwide. Augustine stole LEGO sets and figures, but instead of keeping them, he replaced the bricks with bags of pasta. The police department released security footage of the thefts and body camera footage of Augustine’s arrest. He’s now facing grand theft charges and is being held at the Orange County Jail while awaiting trial.

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Despite the seriousness of the crime, people online had a lot of fun reacting to the Irvine Police Department’s video of a LEGO set thief being arrested. Comments flooded in with jokes like “Pasta la Vista” and references to the movie The LEGO Movie, saying “everything is awesome.” The police department joined in the lightheartedness, playfully warning anyone who tries a similar scheme they’ll be “cooked al dente.” While details about which LEGO sets were stolen and the total cost weren’t released, fans can be assured future LEGO kits will be safe from any sauce-related mishaps.

LEGO isn’t the only popular item being stolen lately. Pokémon cards are also a frequent target, with stores losing thousands of dollars worth. There’s even been a dramatic incident in Chicago where thieves drove a car into a GameStop to steal video games and equipment. Now that the person stealing LEGO has been caught, police are keeping an eye out for others who might try to steal valuable toys, collectibles, and games.

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2026-04-19 22:04