$1 million Lego heist busted: What this bizarre toy crime says about the booming resale market — and why the theft is more common than you might think

Jose Lopez, 37, of San Bernardino, California; Ruben Lopez Flores, 25, of Los Angeles; and Freddy Hernandez Polinar, 35, of Chino, California, are facing charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, cargo theft and conspiracy.

Circling the area, the deputies also discovered two freight trailers depicting the Amazon logo — both believed to be stolen while in transit from Fort Worth, Texas to Moreno Valley, California.

Daniela Gonzaga, Public Information Officer with the Kern County Sheriff's Office, told Moneywise that all three suspects in this incident posted bail and that an arraignment date is scheduled for April 29, 2026. The details are to follow closer to that date.

Moneywise also reached out to the Kern County Sheriff's Office, but received no response by press deadline.

While it's unknown whether the theft specifically targeted the shipments because they contained Legos, it isn't the first such theft of the popular plastic brick toy.

Why thieves are targeting Lego

Nationwide, losses stemming from cargo thefts that include a wide range of products have risen 60% from 2024 to 2025 and have cost about $725 million, according to CargoNet (2), a cargo theft prevention and recovery business. Average value per theft has also increased, rising by 36% to $273,999, reflecting increased high-value targeting by organized groups.

While not exclusive to freight thefts, similar Lego thefts have also made headlines in recent years, including a 2024 case when 2,800 boxes of stolen Legos were discovered in a Long Beach home, with individual sets valued between $20 and over $1,000 each (3).

Earlier that year, thieves targeted Lego resale stores across Southern California in at least seven separate incidents, resulting in more than $100,000 in stolen merchandise (4).