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Man Arrested for $34K LEGO Theft Scheme Using Pasta

4/19/2026

43 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Jarrelle Augustine, a 28-year-old man from Southern California, was arrested on grand theft charges for allegedly stealing more than $34,000 in LEGO sets by swapping bricks with dried pasta and returning them to Target.
Irvine police say Augustine carried out the scheme at least 70 times across states, including Texas and Florida.
Authorities found LEGO pieces and pasta at his residence.
Augustine is booked into Orange County Jail.

History

Historical Context

In 2013, Target Corporation reported $1.4 billion in losses due to retail theft, highlighting a growing issue for major retailers. Jarrelle Augustine's scheme, involving over $34,000 in stolen LEGO sets, exemplifies the lengths individuals will go to exploit return policies. This rise in thefts has prompted retailers to reevaluate security measures and return policies to safeguard their inventory and mitigate losses.

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Story summary

Jarrelle Augustine, a 28-year-old man from Southern California, was arrested on grand theft charges for allegedly stealing more than $34,000 in LEGO sets by swapping bricks with dried pasta and returning them to Target.
Irvine police say Augustine carried out the scheme at least 70 times across states, including Texas and Florida.
Authorities found LEGO pieces and pasta at his residence.
Augustine is booked into Orange County Jail.

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