Lego pasta theft scheme

Police arrested Augustine after investigators linked him to a series of fraudulent returns where high-value Lego minifigures were removed from their boxes.

The 'Lego bandit' would then fill the packaging with pasta to match the weight before returning the items for a full refund.

Target's loss prevention teams identified the pattern, which officials described as an 'off the charts' switch scheme.

Augustine faces multiple counts of grand theft and is currently being held as the investigation expands to other retailers.