Two semi-truck trailers loaded with stolen Lego sets — valued at nearly $1 million — were recovered this week in Kern County, authorities said.
Deputies with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Mojave Station, arrested three Inland Empire men in connection with the case. The suspects were identified as Jose Lopez, 37, of San Bernardino; Ruben Lopez Flores, 25, of Los Angeles; and Freddy Hernandez Polinar, 35, of Chino. All three face multiple felony charges, including cargo theft, possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy.
The investigation began April 8 when deputies were called to the 400 block of Silver Queen Road after reports of suspicious vehicles. When law enforcement arrived, two box trucks attempted to flee the area. Deputies conducted traffic stops and detained the drivers without further incident.
Inside the trucks, authorities discovered a large quantity of Lego merchandise. Further investigation revealed the cargo had been taken while in transit from Fort Worth, Texas, and was headed to Moreno Valley in Riverside County.
According to Kern County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lori Meza, the shipment was destined for Moreno Valley but was not en route to an official Lego retail store. Additional details about the intended destination and whether any items are still missing remain under investigation.
The recovery comes amid a growing number of theft cases involving high-demand retail goods in the Inland Empire.
In a separate incident last month, Hemet police uncovered a retail theft operation involving stolen merchandise, including Lego sets, being resold at a local swap meet. Authorities said thousands of dollars worth of items — ranging from Star Wars-themed Lego sets to toys and power tools — were seized during that investigation.
Hemet Police Chief Michael Arellano said at the time that the crackdown reflects a broader effort to combat organized retail theft and protect local businesses from financial losses.
It remains unclear whether the two cases are connected.
