Man arrested for reportedly stealing LEGO products worth $25,000
What's the story
A 32-year-old man has been charged with stealing around $25,000 worth of LEGO products from Target stores in Walnut Creek and San Ramon in California. The man, identified as Michael Ivory Fletcher, allegedly committed the thefts between August 15, 2024 and February 15 this year. Fletcher is facing multiple charges including commercial burglary and grand theft for the alleged crimes, according to the Contra Costa district attorney's office.
Modus operandi
Allegations of theft method
Fletcher is accused of using a similar modus operandi for his alleged thefts. He would reportedly enter the store alone, load his cart with LEGO items, and leave quickly within minutes. After the alleged thefts, he would supposedly leave the stolen items in a car parked in an accessible parking spot. The district attorney's office claims Fletcher executed this scheme at least seven times during the period.
Additional charges
Fletcher's thefts extend beyond Contra Costa County
Along with the Contra Costa county charges, Fletcher is also believed to have committed thefts in a number of other counties. These include Solano, Alameda, San Joaquin, Sonoma, and Santa Clara. The Alameda county district attorney has also accused him of stealing $1,881 worth of Star Wars LEGO sets in Fremont.
Legal proceedings
Current status and potential sentence
Fletcher was arrested at a Target store in Walnut Creek and is being held at the Martinez detention facility on nearly $500,000 bail. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to nine years and four months in county jail. This string of thefts has highlighted the increasing trend of LEGO products being stolen in the Bay Area.