A 47-year-old man was arrested in Barcelona by Mossos d'Esquadra officers from the Sant Martí Investigation Unit, accused of committing seven thefts in toy shops. The suspect allegedly stole over 20 boxes of Lego construction sets, valued at nearly €2,000, according to police.
Investigators gathered several complaints about similar incidents in toy shops, with five occurring in Barcelona and one in Rubí, in the Vallès Occidental region. The Mossos d'Esquadra noted that the suspect targeted the same shop in the Sant Martí district four times.
Arrest and Judicial Order
On 16 April, plainclothes investigation and public safety officers from Sant Martí set up an operation at one of the targeted shops. They intercepted the suspect as he left the establishment with two more boxes of Lego, leading to his immediate arrest. He appeared before a judge on 18 April.
The Sant Martí Mossos d'Esquadra requested a restraining order against the man, prohibiting him from approaching toy shops. The court granted this request, meaning he cannot come within 500 metres of such stores for six months. The suspect has a history of 16 previous arrests.
Reselling Stolen Goods
The man reportedly resold the stolen Lego sets through digital platforms and second-hand shops. This method allowed him to profit from the high demand for Lego constructions at lower prices, according to investigators. The police investigation aimed to connect the various theft reports and identify the individual responsible for the repeated incidents.
