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  • $20K in LEGO Stolen from a Canadian Toys R Us


    Jeff Mack

    Ok, which one of you did this?  Darth_Raichu?  Veegs?  According to this article, police are reporting that three men forced their way into a Toys 'R' Us in Ontario and stole a "large quantity" of Lego sets with a presumed retail value of $20,000.  That is a pretty large haul even if the currency is in Canadian Dollars.  I am wondering why this news is just coming out now since the crime happened back in October.

    The most intriguing part of this article to me is that they mention that this probably happened due to the increase in popularity because of the movie and that the high prices of LEGO have created a "black market" :scratchhead:

    I am not sure if they are calling LEGO resellers the black market or if there is a whole new shady underground movement going on out there, perhaps we can come up with a new site for the dark web.  I nominate Ed Mack for kingpin of the LEGO Underground Scene.

    If any of our Brickpicker members that are located north of the United States learn any information about this heist or the black market, please report it to your local authorities.

    Edited by Jeff Mack




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    This seems to be the case with any popular thing.  If there is money to be made, people will do anything to make it.  It's like hearing about the big maple syrup heist out there in Canada a while back.

    I think we should create our own 'Lego Silk Road' as it were.  Why not?

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    CTV news report last night...

    Police say they're looking for three suspects after $20,000 worth of Lego products was stolen from a toy store in Hamilton, Ont.

    http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/lego-worth-20-000-stolen-from-ont-toy-store-three-men-sought-1.2666019

     

    Great, I suppose the nearest 6 cities will now all have a bunch of non-buyers making inquiries about Kijiji Lego adds  as part of investigations.

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    I would expect them to be looking for people selling large quantities of Lego (e.g. Lots of postings).

    FYI be careful buying as well. If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is.

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    "I am not sure if they are calling LEGO resellers the black market or if there is a whole new shady underground movement going on out there, perhaps we can come up with a new site for the dark web.  I nominate Ed Mack for kingpin of the LEGO Underground Scene."

    Years ago my sister sent me me an article link after first having made fun of me for my Lego investing, then saying there may be some validity to what I was doing. Couldn't find the email, but the article was saying how drug dealers have started using Lego sets as currency because Lego sets not only hold value, but are also less traceable than currency and it's hard to assume someone is a drug dealer when you catch them with a bag full of Lego sets.

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    1 hour ago, Huskers1236 said:

    When your police force is on horseback, news travels slow. 

    Hah... Now we just need raven to chime in with some animated gif of the RCMP on horseback and we're set. ;)

    $20k CDN is about $14k in US dollars for those curious. It doesn't really surprise me - LEGO is easy to unload for less than MSRP as all the QFLLs around here know. I regularly see multiple sealed and still available at retail sets selling for less than MSRP on the local online marketplace Kijiji... and knowing what kind of discounts were available on these sets the only conclusion you can draw is they are stolen. A single set is maybe a gift not wanted.. but when people post 4 or 5 at once, yeah, no way.

    It's a big chunk of LEGO but it pales in comparison to some of the larger shoplifting rings busted in the US in the last few years.

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    1 hour ago, citymorgue said:

    This seems to be the case with any popular thing.  If there is money to be made, people will do anything to make it.  It's like hearing about the big maple syrup heist out there in Canada a while back.

    I think we should create our own 'Lego Silk Road' as it were.  Why not?

    No way, there was really a maple syrup heist, I love it. What's next, a Guinness tanker hijacked in Dublin?? 

    Or did that happen already???? :lol:

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    6 hours ago, Sprocket77 said:

    No way, there was really a maple syrup heist, I love it. What's next, a Guinness tanker hijacked in Dublin?? 

    Or did that happen already???? :lol:

    Happened already. Someone drove their tractor into the James Gate site, attached to a trailer full of barrels, and drove off.

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    Wow.  Good thing most criminals are idiots.  If a person is willing to commit a serious crime for a measly few thousand bucks, I'd imagine there are much easier ways than stealing LEGO sets.  The masterminds now have to sell the sets, which is work.  Good luck.  I'm guessing these geniuses will be caught eventually.

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    10 hours ago, capsa77 said:

    the article was saying how drug dealers have started using Lego sets as currency because Lego sets not only hold value, but are also less traceable than currency and it's hard to assume someone is a drug dealer when you catch them with a bag full of Lego sets.

    Now i know why that Xwing i bought on ebay.ca was covered in (what i assumed was) baby powder.

    .........And why i'm still awake and cleaning the box 7 days later.

     

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    On ‎11‎/‎20‎/‎2015‎ ‎9‎:‎02‎:‎38‎, Sprocket77 said:

    No way, there was really a maple syrup heist, I love it. What's next, a Guinness tanker hijacked in Dublin?? 

    Or did that happen already???? :lol:

    For anyone else wondering, here is the link to the maple syrup heist.  Approximately $18 Million, yes, MILLION, was stolen.

    http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-01-02/the-great-canadian-maple-syrup-heist

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