Several Southern California LEGO shops burglarized, losses total about $100,000
by: Austin Turner, Jennifer McGraw
Posted: Jun 2, 2024 / 05:55 PM PDT
A popular chain selling LEGO products has had several locations across Southern
California burglarized in the last couple of months, owners say.
Multiple owners of “Bricks & Minifigs,” a nationwide chain of franchised stores,
told KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw that they believe the same person is responsible
for each of the burglaries.
“His car is on every surveillance camera that we have, he wears pretty much the
same thing in a lot of the videos,” said Katherine Leuschner, owner of the Whittier
location. “I can’t believe he hasn’t been caught yet.”
Owners tell KTLA that five locations — Whittier, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Riverside
and Ontario have been burglarized in the last eight weeks. Another, in Anaheim,
was broken into, but nothing appeared to be stolen.
Surveillance videos showed a similar scene for each — the man broke windows,
entered the stores and goes straight for the minitaure figures section with a
plastic trash bag and a headlamp.
“He’s in and out in such a short amount of time,” said Nancy Randle, owner of
the Anaheim store.
Between the five stores, about $100,000 worth of products have been stolen, owners
say. Leuschner claims that about $10,000 in figures were burglarized before the
suspect got spooked by a noise near her Whittier store.
Several Southern California LEGO shops burglarized, losses total about $100,000
by: Austin Turner, Jennifer McGraw
Posted: Jun 2, 2024 / 05:55 PM PDT
A popular chain selling LEGO products has had several locations across Southern
California burglarized in the last couple of months, owners say.
Multiple owners of “Bricks & Minifigs,” a nationwide chain of franchised stores,
told KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw that they believe the same person is responsible
for each of the burglaries.
“His car is on every surveillance camera that we have, he wears pretty much the
same thing in a lot of the videos,” said Katherine Leuschner, owner of the Whittier
location. “I can’t believe he hasn’t been caught yet.”
Owners tell KTLA that five locations — Whittier, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Riverside
and Ontario have been burglarized in the last eight weeks. Another, in Anaheim,
was broken into, but nothing appeared to be stolen.
Surveillance videos showed a similar scene for each — the man broke windows,
entered the stores and goes straight for the minitaure figures section with a
plastic trash bag and a headlamp.
“He’s in and out in such a short amount of time,” said Nancy Randle, owner of
the Anaheim store.
Between the five stores, about $100,000 worth of products have been stolen, owners
say. Leuschner claims that about $10,000 in figures were burglarized before the
suspect got spooked by a noise near her Whittier store.
This is one of the main things holding me back from opening a brick and mortar
location. Sure, that's what insurance is for, but you still have to deal
with the fallout and garden variety shrink. I already had to deal with it with
someone I used to have help me sort.
I hate to be THAT guy, but if you've been targeted multiple times in the
past few months, why are your stores still without proper security features like
metal shutters in front of the doors/windows & increased CCTVs? You're practically
BEGGING to have this happen, especially when you're in California where they're
quite lenient against theft
I'm almost certain installing some security measures would've cost less
than the $110,000 they claimed to have lost
There could be local restrictions against using metal shutters
I hate to be THAT guy, but if you've been targeted multiple times in the
past few months, why are your stores still without proper security features like
metal shutters in front of the doors/windows & increased CCTVs? You're practically
BEGGING to have this happen, especially when you're in California where they're
quite lenient against theft
I'm almost certain installing some security measures would've cost less
than the $110,000 they claimed to have lost
There could be local restrictions against using metal shutters
They are also individual franchises so separate businesses rather than a single
business. The cost of increased security for each small business might not be
worthwhile especially if insurance covers losses. Of course, in future insurance
costs may rocket unless they install such measures.
The rate of increase in “fire, theft and damage” claims correlating with the
current global economy downward trajectory, is a known actuary to insurers
Not speculating on these specific cases reported, only that we can expect to
see an uptick in such stories, through to the next economic turnaround.
Several Southern California LEGO shops burglarized, losses total about $100,000
by: Austin Turner, Jennifer McGraw
Posted: Jun 2, 2024 / 05:55 PM PDT
A popular chain selling LEGO products has had several locations across Southern
California burglarized in the last couple of months, owners say.
Multiple owners of “Bricks & Minifigs,” a nationwide chain of franchised stores,
told KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw that they believe the same person is responsible
for each of the burglaries.
“His car is on every surveillance camera that we have, he wears pretty much the
same thing in a lot of the videos,” said Katherine Leuschner, owner of the Whittier
location. “I can’t believe he hasn’t been caught yet.”
Owners tell KTLA that five locations — Whittier, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Riverside
and Ontario have been burglarized in the last eight weeks. Another, in Anaheim,
was broken into, but nothing appeared to be stolen.
Surveillance videos showed a similar scene for each — the man broke windows,
entered the stores and goes straight for the minitaure figures section with a
plastic trash bag and a headlamp.
“He’s in and out in such a short amount of time,” said Nancy Randle, owner of
the Anaheim store.
Between the five stores, about $100,000 worth of products have been stolen, owners
say. Leuschner claims that about $10,000 in figures were burglarized before the
suspect got spooked by a noise near her Whittier store.
Several Southern California LEGO shops burglarized, losses total about $100,000
by: Austin Turner, Jennifer McGraw
Posted: Jun 2, 2024 / 05:55 PM PDT
A popular chain selling LEGO products has had several locations across Southern
California burglarized in the last couple of months, owners say.
Multiple owners of “Bricks & Minifigs,” a nationwide chain of franchised stores,
told KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw that they believe the same person is responsible
for each of the burglaries.
“His car is on every surveillance camera that we have, he wears pretty much the
same thing in a lot of the videos,” said Katherine Leuschner, owner of the Whittier
location. “I can’t believe he hasn’t been caught yet.”
Owners tell KTLA that five locations — Whittier, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Riverside
and Ontario have been burglarized in the last eight weeks. Another, in Anaheim,
was broken into, but nothing appeared to be stolen.
Surveillance videos showed a similar scene for each — the man broke windows,
entered the stores and goes straight for the minitaure figures section with a
plastic trash bag and a headlamp.
“He’s in and out in such a short amount of time,” said Nancy Randle, owner of
the Anaheim store.
Between the five stores, about $100,000 worth of products have been stolen, owners
say. Leuschner claims that about $10,000 in figures were burglarized before the
suspect got spooked by a noise near her Whittier store.
What would cctv even do? It's California. The thieves will probably be let
go without a cash bail the next day. Lol.
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