The massive demand for LEGO and sky-high retail costs is making a rising black market in SoCal, the place thieves go to nice lengths to steal LEGO from shops.
Regulation enforcement sources inform TMZ … theft gangs are going to retailers like Goal, Barnes & Noble and Walmart and stealing any LEGO gadgets, and the crimes are getting extra refined day by day.
This is not a smash and seize kind of job … we’re informed that a number of the LEGO-enhanced crews at the moment are utilizing counter-tracking know-how, in addition to drivers and spotters.
As soon as the thieves get away with the LEGOs, our sources say they flip round and promote them to the fence – to individuals who commerce in stolen items – and the LEGOs are then offered on websites like eBay, Fb and OfferUp.
As we reported, there was a a big LEGO bust in SoCal earlier this month … police found almost 3,000 packing containers of LEGO toy units, resulting in 2 arrests … and that is simply the tip of the iceberg.
Studio TMZ
If you have not been to the toy part these days, LEGO costs are larger than ever … a key issue within the explosion of the LEGO black market.
Issues are getting so loopy that we’re informed fences at the moment are sending out purchasing lists filled with in style LEGO units to thieves … and crime has turn out to be a giant payday.
In the meantime, our sources say some stolen LEGOs are being offered at swap meets … and others are even being shipped abroad.
One other issue driving the rise in LEGO theft … most police departments in SoCal are understaffed and our sources say violent crimes take precedence over stolen toys.
We’re informed that LEGO is working with regulation enforcement to fight the black market, nevertheless it’s unclear to what extent or to what extent.
We have reached out to LEGO … have not heard again but.