Man Arrested in Adelaide with $250,000 Stolen Lego, Toys

South Australian police have arrested a 41-year-old man charged with stealing approximately $250,000 worth of children's toys, including 1,700 unopened boxes of Lego, from multiple department stores across Adelaide. The stolen haul, consisting of around 2,500 items such as soft toys, water guns, and branded merchandise, was discovered during a raid on a Royal Park property and was so substantial it required three truckloads to remove. Authorities allege the stolen goods were intended for resale on online marketplaces, prompting police to warn consumers against purchasing cheap goods from such sites, as doing so inadvertently supports criminal activity. This arrest is part of Operation Measure, a collaborative effort between South Australia Police and the retail industry aimed at targeting repeat offenders and reducing retail theft, which has resulted in about 2,500 arrests and a sustained decline in shoplifting across the state. Acting Assistant Commissioner John De Candia emphasized that retail theft is not a victimless crime and highlighted the ongoing commitment to combating recidivist offenders. The accused is scheduled to appear in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court later this month.