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 targets repeat offenders as well as those who use violence and threats when stealing. As the stolen items were believed to be bound for online sales, police urged consumers not to buy cheap goods from the web, emphasizing that this type of theft is not victimless.
Those who purchase cheap goods from online sites are unwittingly facilitating this crime, De Candia noted.
Police reported a drop in shop thefts in South Australia, with approximately 2,500 arrests made in recent months. Meanwhile, retail crime remains a global issue, with significant theft reports adding millions in losses to retailers, including increases seen in the UK.
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 targets repeat offenders as well as those who use violence and threats when stealing. As the stolen items were believed to be bound for online sales, police urged consumers not to buy cheap goods from the web, emphasizing that this type of theft is not victimless.
Those who purchase cheap goods from online sites are unwittingly facilitating this crime, De Candia noted.
Police reported a drop in shop thefts in South Australia, with approximately 2,500 arrests made in recent months. Meanwhile, retail crime remains a global issue, with significant theft reports adding millions in losses to retailers, including increases seen in the UK.
