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South Australian police have charged a man with theft following the discovery of an extensive trove of Lego and toys valued at $250,000 (£120,800; $163,400), allegedly stolen from department stores across Adelaide. The raid on a Royal Park property on Saturday yielded around 2,500 items, including 1,700 unopened Lego boxes.
Police said the stash, which was reportedly going to be sold online, was the largest seized in a state-wide retail theft operation and was so large it took three truckloads and additional personnel to remove.
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 said the operation - which sees shops team up with police to catch alleged thieves - 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 to not buy cheap goods from the web.
"This type of theft is not victimless," De Candia said. "Those who purchase cheap goods from online sites are unwittingly facilitating this crime and we would urge them to consider this.''
Police said the operation has seen a drop in shop thefts in recent months in South Australia, with officers making about 2,500 arrests.
Retail crime across the globe has surged in recent years, with a survey showing reports by retailers of customer theft in the UK rose by 3.7 million to 20.4 million, in the 12 months to September 2024, costing retailers an estimated £2bn.
The 41-year-old man charged over the stash will appear in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 30 September.
