Massive Lego bust in Oregon highlights growing concerns over retail theft

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AN OREGON MAN’S LEGO EMPIRE IS NO MORE AFTER POLICE RAIDED HIS TOY STORE BUT IT’S JUST A SMALL PIECE OF THE LARGER GROWING PROBLEM OF RETAIL THEFT.

FOLLOWING A THREE-MONTH INVESTIGATION AUTHORITIES FOUND MORE THAN FOUR THOUSAND ALLEGEDLY STOLEN AND HARD-TO-FIND LEGO SETS WORTH MORE THAN 200-THOUSAND DOLLARS AT A STORE KNOWN AS “BRICK BUILDERS.”

LAW ENFORCEMENT SAYS THIEVES WOULD STEAL EXPENSIVE LEGOS FROM RETAILERS THEN SELL THEM TO EMPLOYEES AT BRICK BUILDERS. THEN THE BUSINESS WOULD RESALE THEM AT A PREMIUM.

THE STORE’S OWNER AND ONE EMPLOYEE NOW FACE CHARGES OF ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT AND RECEIVING STOLEN MERCHANDISE. THE ORGANIZED THEFT CHARGE ALONE CARRIES UP TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON.

OREGON RECENTLY INCREASED MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR RETAIL THEFT AS THE CRIME TREND CONTINUES NATIONWIDE AND BIG BOX STORES ARE ON HIGH-ALERT.

TARGET RECENTLY CLOSED SEVERAL STORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER RETAIL CRIME AND HIRED MORE SECURITY STAFF.

RETAILERS HAVE ALSO PUT MORE ITEMS BEHIND GLASS — A MOVE THAT COMES WITH A COST.

ANALYSTS SAY LOCKING UP MERCHANDISE CAN REDUCE SALES ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO 20 PERCENT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT RETAIL THEFT CRACKDOWNS ARE ALSO INTENSIFYING.

IN SOUTH FLORIDA, 14 PEOPLE WERE CHARGED WITH STEALING MORE THAN 20 MILLION DOLLARS IN MERCHANDISE IN OCTOBER. 

AND IN TEXAS, LAWMAKERS ARE EXPLORING THE OPTION OF A PROPOSED TASK FORCE TO TACKLE AN UPTICK IN RETAIL THEFT. 

RETAIL THEFT COSTS STORES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR AND SOME EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN ATTACKED DURING SO-CALLED “SMASH-AND-GRABS’

IN TURN, THE CRIME RESULTS IN FEWER RETAIL OPTIONS AND HIGHER PRICES FOR CUSTOMERS.

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