Police: Man Stole, Sold $42K In Legos Star Wars Items On Ebay

Police: Man Stole, Sold $42K In Legos Star Wars Items On Ebay

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Anthony Ricca called the Star Wars Legos items he sold on EBay "Heroes of the Galaxy." West Palm Beach authorities call his actions a $42,000 theft scheme.

The 37-year-old Ricca is charged with grand theft and fraud after allegedly stealing the Legos Star Wars toys from several Target stores in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

He was in court early Thursday and it wasn't immediately clear if he had a lawyer. A message left on his home voice mail wasn't immediately returned.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Ricca was arrested Wednesday after Target officials caught him shoplifting Legos. Detectives also found an EBay account titled "Heroes of the Galaxy" and a company with the same name listing Ricca as president.

"There is apparently some type of nostalgic or intrinsic value for these Star Wars Legos products, where individuals that are fans of Star Wars end up bidding for these products and buying them on Ebay," Pete Palenzuela with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office told WPBF News 25.

A search warrant of Ricca's home found hundreds of Lego products. Over $42,000 in Legos has been sold on the "Heroes" Ebay account, police said.

Authorities said that Target store officials began an investigation about a year ago after noticing that their Star Wars Legos inventory was coming up short. According to a police report, detectives discovered that Ricca would legitimately buy the merchandise, put it in his car, then return to the store, pick up the same merchandise and walk out of the store with the toys and the first receipt in hand.

Ricca's method of operation was so covert that store employees had no idea Ricca had been stealing for so long, WPBF reported. One store manager told WPBF that he only found out about the investigation after the arrest.

Police said that Ricca confessed to stealing about $150 worth of toys each week.

Police: Man Stole, Sold $42K In Legos Star Wars Items On Ebay - West Palm Beach News Story - WPBF West Palm Beach

Talk about a man on a mission!