Two arrested, including 71-year-old man, for allegedly stealing nearly 3,000 LEGO boxes

Two people were arrested Wednesday in what police are calling a LEGO theft ring after nearly 3,000 boxes of stolen LEGO toys were found in a California home, police said.

Richard Siegel, 71, and Blanca Gudino, 39, were arrested by Los Angeles police after a retailer identified Gudino as a suspect in a number of thefts that occurred at their San Pedro establishment in December of last year, leading police to conduct a month-long investigation. .

On Tuesday, Gudino was seen stealing again from the same retailer's Torrance and Lakewood stores, before dropping off the stolen LEGO sets at Siegel's home.

The next day, detectives conducted a search of Siegel's home and found more than 2,800 boxes of LEGO sets, each ranging from $20 to $1,000.

“During the police's investigation at Siegel's home, potential buyers of the toys arrived, attracted by advertisements placed by Siegel on Internet shopping sites,” the LAPD said in a press release.

Siegel and Gudino were arrested. Siegel was charged with organized retail theft and Gudino was charged with grand larceny.

It is unclear whether either has legal representation at this time.

The LAPD is asking anyone with information about this theft ring to contact us.