IRVINE, CA — The Irvine Police Department has arrested a Paramount man following a national retail theft investigation involving approximately $34,000 in losses. 28 year old Jarelle Augustine if Paramount, was taken into custody on charges of grand theft and booked at the Orange County Jail.
According to authorities, the investigation began after Target reported a series of fraudulent returns linked to a single individual. The suspect allegedly purchased Lego sets from various retail locations, removed valuable components and “mini-figures” from the packaging, and replaced the items with dried pasta to maintain the weight of the boxes. These tampered sets were then returned to the stores for full refunds.
Retail security experts noted that at least 70 separate thefts across the country have been tied to this specific scheme. Following the report, IPD detectives initiated a surveillance operation that led to the identification and subsequent arrest of Augustine.
The case highlights an ongoing trend in organized retail crime where high-value hobby items are targeted for component resale. Investigators confirmed that the scheme impacted multiple jurisdictions beyond Irvine, prompting a coordinated effort to track the suspect’s activity across state lines. The case has been referred to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
