California man charged after Lego larceny worth $25,000
You know the old saying: Yellow plastic is worth its weight in gold.
OK, so maybe that’s not a thing. But it might have been for a man in Vallejo County, Calif., who authorities allege stole thousands of dollars in Lego merchandise from Target stores.
Three things to know:
- Michael Ivory Fletcher, 32, was charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney with multiple counts of second-degree burglary and grand theft after he was accused of stealing nearly $25,000 worth of Lego merchandise from Target stores in Walnut Creek and San Ramon between August 2024 and February 2025.
- The Lego heists are suspected to have taken place in a total of six counties, where Fletcher allegedly loaded up his shopping cart with the expensive building toys, disappeared into the parking lot “in a matter of minutes” and drove away, the DA’s office said.
- He’s not the only California Lego larcenist. In June, NPR’s Adrian Florido reported that Lego thefts had become more frequent in the Los Angeles area, with thieves targeting a specific kind of Lego — the minifig.
Listen to NPR’s Short Wave podcast for more discoveries, everyday mysteries and the science behind the headlines.
Why the Lego hype?
Well, it turns out that the iconic bricks and figurines can have a return value that rivals traditional investments, including gold.
That’s according to one study from 2021, in which researchers from the Higher School of Economics in Moscow found that select unopened Lego sets on the resale market saw an average annual return of 11%.
In part, that’s because rare special edition releases, like the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, and kits produced for a limited time can skyrocket in value on the secondary market.
NPR’s Jason Fuller and Courtney Dorning gave the full economic profile on the plastic that could build out your nest egg. (Or maybe just your toy box.)
Dive deeper with NPR:
- Read more on another kind of Lego crime altogether — counterfeit kits.
- Want to understand the impact of tech on your body and how to live better with your devices? Subscribe to the Body Electric newsletter.
South Africa reopens inquest into death of Steve Biko
South Africa has reopened the investigation into the death of anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko — 48 years after he was killed in police custody.
Memphis latest city Trump is targeting for federal government actions to combat crime
In an interview Friday morning, President Trump announced Memphis is his next target for federal intervention to combat crime. The president said he has support from Tennessee's governor and Memphis' mayor.
Prince Harry makes surprise visit to Ukraine in support of wounded troops
Britain's Prince Harry has arrived in Ukraine for a surprise visit in support of wounded service members.
Something big collapsed this week — again. Do you know what? Take our quiz
This week, we had news of a drawing that may or may not be the president's, and of a rock that may or may not indicate that Mars had life.
Insect populations drop even without direct human interference, a new study finds
Research published this month found that even in pristine, untouched areas, insect populations are still on the decline. Climate change is a likely culprit.
CBS shifts to accommodate the right under new owner
CBS's new owner, David Ellison, has taken concrete steps to address the concerns of the news division's sharpest critics — particularly President Trump and his allies.
