A 41-year-old man has been charged with theft after police discovered an enormous collection of stolen toys, including 1,700 unopened Lego sets, valued at over £120,000 in Adelaide.
Officers raided a residence in Royal Park on Saturday as part of Operation Measure, a campaign targeting retail theft. They recovered approximately 2,500 items, with the haul so large that three truckloads were needed to remove them.
Police allege the goods were stolen from multiple department stores across the metropolitan area and were likely being sold online. Alongside Lego, the stash included soft toys, water guns, and toy trucks from brands such as Pokémon, Barbie, Hello Kitty, and Thomas the Tank Engine.
“The size of the haul is significant and indicates the depth of the alleged offending,” said John De Candia of South Australia Police. He urged buyers of cheap online goods to consider that they may be facilitating crime.
Operation Measure, launched in partnership with retailers, has led to nearly 2,500 arrests or reports. Shoplifting in South Australia has declined for eight consecutive months, with a 6 per cent drop in June alone.
The suspect is scheduled to appear at Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 30 September.
