Law Cops dismantle $50K Lego theft ring

Business was stacking up. Then it all came crashing down.

A Southeast Portland man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of soliciting the theft of Legos and other items and selling them online for large profits, police said. Photos of the illicit stash show Legos piled high and enough merch to line parts of Raji Afife Azar's driveway.

Azar, 40, is set to be arraigned Friday in Multnomah County Circuit Court on over two-dozen felonies, records show. He was jailed Thursday and released on his own recognizance.

But once he was initially taken into custody, authorities served a search warrant at his family's home in the 2000 block of 102nd Avenue, according to Portland police. Fred Meyer investigators estimate the value of recovered Legos and other toys stolen from their stores is about $50,000 — a figure that doesn't include the value of things stolen from other businesses, police say.

Detectives think Azar would solicit thefts through websites like Craigslist and OfferUp, which allow people to browse items for sale and arrange for their purchase. He'd then buy the stolen items then turn around and sell them online, according to police.

Often the people who would steal the merchandise and sell it to Azar were drug addicts, according to police.

Authorities arrested him after a transaction he arranged with undercover investigators who he thought were thieves, police said. Fred Meyer Organized Retail Theft Unit investigators first learned Azar was heading the fencing — or illegal sale — operation early this year, according to police.

Azar has no criminal record in Oregon, according to court records. Records show he cares for his parents. He lives with his parents and sister and is employed by a hospital, the records show.

He's accused of aggravated first-degree theft, first-degree theft, laundering a monetary instrument and computer crime, according to police.

"Investigators remind anyone purchasing items from a non-retail location to be aware of items sold as 'new' or in unopened packages with prices that seem too good to be true - the items may be stolen," Portland police said in a news release.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/04/se_portland_man_schemed_lego_t.html

 

[I Exist]

Classic Chris-Cha-

Oh wait, nevermind.

 

[RG 448]

That must have taken a long fucking time to dismantle.

 

[neger psykolog]

A motherboard article on the same topic has some interesting parts that weren't really clear in the OP article:

Although Lego may seem like an odd criminal racket, stealing these toys is almost the perfect crime. They have high retail value and no serial numbers, which makes it hard for investigators to determine whether a given set is stolen.

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/...ps-busted-a-large-lego-crime-ring-in-portland

Also of interest is the police statement:

As part of Azar's fencing operation, people who often times suffered from addiction to opioids and other drugs would enter stores and steal items to sell to Azar. Azar would in turn buy the stolen merchandise for a small percentage of the items' actual worth and sell the stolen merchandise at a large profit for himself.

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/news/read.cfm?id=139058

 

[8777BB5]

Is this The West Coast's Chris-Chan?

 

[Kyria the Great]

the proper punishment for this man is for him to construct his own jail cell with legos, brick by brick.

 

[LocalFireDept]

I'm glad this terrorist was stopped before he could spread these Lego everywhere one night and causing pain and distress to the unprotected feet of innocent Americans.

 

[Desire Lines]

I hope this guy steps on a Lego

 

[dunbrine47]

One hour in the cell, 23 hours walking barefoot of the path of legos.

 

[Calooby]

This is probably the funniest A&H yet. I too thought of Chris.

 

[Randall Fragg]

Laugh now, but those cops have fucked up. They've stumbled upon an operation of one of the most dangerous criminal gangs in the world: The Autistic Mafia. They have no shame, no boundaries, and once you've angered them they will never, ever, stop obsessing over you.

 

[broilerrx]

Laugh now, but those cops have fucked up. They've stumbled upon an operation of one of the most dangerous criminal gangs in the world: The Autistic Mafia. They have no shame, no boundaries, and once you've angered them they will never, ever, stop obsessing over you.

Would the autistic mafia take in Kiwi's, or would membership on the Farms be grounds for summary execution?

Is this The West Coast's Chris-Chan?

At least he made a profit off of this shit. I'd be willing to bet Chris would get fucked over by the junkies selling this shit to him, as opposed to getting it at a reduced price like this guy.