Police arrest 71-year-old Long Beach man in connection to retail thefts involving Lego toys
Police said Richard Siegel advertised the stolen goods online and sold them out of his home.
A 71-year-old Long Beach man and a 39-year-old Lawndale woman were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of carrying out a series of organized thefts where they allegedly stole thousands of Lego toys from stores across the South Bay, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Richard Siegel was taken into custody on suspicion of organized retail theft. Blanca Gudino was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, police said. Siegel was later released on his own recognizance, according to inmate records.
Gudino first got on police’s radar in December 2023, when loss prevention personnel at a retail store in the 1700 block of North Gaffey Avenue identified her as a suspect in a series of thefts, according to the LAPD.
On Tuesday, officers observed Gudino steal items, including Lego toys, from retail stores in Torrance and Lakewood, police said. She then traveled to Siegel’s home in Long Beach and provided him with Lego toys.
Detectives then obtained a search warrant for Siegel’s home and served it the following day, police said.
There, detectives seized 2,800 boxes of Lego toys valued between $20 to $1,000, police said.
Police did not say whether all the boxes had been stolen. Siegel, who would advertise his products online, had several potential buyers show up at his home as authorities served the warrant, police said.
Police ask anyone with more information regarding the stolen items to contact LAPD detectives at 310-726-7900.
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