In a plot straight out of a crime thriller, Texas police have successfully dismantled a highly organized LEGO toy theft ring, showcasing that even toys can be a significant pursuit for criminals.
It’s surprising how valuable those seemingly innocuous bricks left lying around by your kids can be to criminals. Not only are they a painful experience when stepped on barefoot, but they also hold significant monetary value in the eyes of the wrongdoers.
Police have recently uncovered an operation that spanned multiple states and involved the theft and resale of high-value LEGO sets. The suspects specifically targeted major retail stores and stockrooms.
It All Began With A Traffic Stop.
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According to a report from KETK, in October 2022, a Department of Public Safety trooper initially spotted 19 brand new Cricut electronic cutting machines in the back of a vehicle during a routine traffic stop.
The authorities arrested the driver of the vehicle on an unrelated warrant. They later traced the machines back to the Walmart they were supposedly stolen from. Reportedly, a search warrant was obtained for the driver’s phone.
The Driver Was Receiving Texts From Shane Joel Gentry Of Lancaster, TX.
Gentry received assistance from Brian Fleming, a resident of Lancaster, in his endeavors. Fleming contributed by providing Amazon with numerous invoices for items requested by Gentry.
The Smith County Jail is a correctional facility located in Smith County. It serves as a place of confinement for individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or sentencing. The jail is responsible for the custody and care of inmates, ensuring their safety and security while they are incarcerated. It is also tasked with providing various programs and services to promote rehabilitation and reintegration into society. The Smith County Jail plays a crucial role in maintaining public safety and upholding the principles of justice in the community.
According to reports, Fleming and another individual were captured on video in a Lego aisle at Walmart. They proceeded to purchase a number of inexpensive items. After Fleming left the store, other members of the operation would enter and select the same quantity of items from the Lego aisle.
When customers were stopped after leaving the store without buying the Legos, they would provide a modified version of Fleming’s original receipt. The altered receipt would include the Legos and their correct prices, even though the SKU number still corresponded to the items originally purchased by Fleming.
More than $400,000 in products were stolen this way.
The theft ring targeted Walmart and Target stores across multiple states, including Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas. They stole from various locations, including stores in Longview, Tyler, Kilgore, and Gun Barrel City.
Fleming and Gentry faced charges of participating in organized criminal activity and theft of property exceeding $300,000. Currently, Fleming is in custody at the Smith County Jail, with a combined bond amounting to $1,100,000. Gentry, on the other hand, was incarcerated at the Smith County Jail on November 21 and subsequently released on November 22.