Irvine police arrest two in LEGO minifigure refund scheme

Two people from Tijuana were arrested in Irvine on suspicion of shoplifting after allegedly buying LEGO sets, removing the minifigures inside and returning the empty boxes to stores for full refunds, Irvine police said.

The arrests spotlight a pattern of return fraud that exploits big-box and toy retailers' liberal refund policies across Southern California, with investigators linking the pair to six stores targeted in a single day.

Adriana Esquerra Gonzalez, 29, and Luis Alfredo Quintanilla Pompa, 30, both residents of Tijuana, were taken into custody on suspicion of shoplifting, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Irvine police said investigators believe the pair used the same method at six stores on the same day.

Authorities said the suspects allegedly purchased LEGO sets, extracted the collectible minifigures — small plastic figures that can fetch significant prices on secondary markets — and then returned the gutted boxes to store service desks for full refunds.

Investigators also disclosed a separate, unreported incident in which an unidentified man allegedly stuffed LEGO boxes with pasta before returning them for refunds, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Police did not indicate whether that case is connected to the two arrested suspects.

Both Gonzalez and Quintanilla Pompa face shoplifting charges. Irvine police said the investigation remains ongoing.

Irvine police did not immediately disclose the total estimated value of merchandise involved. The investigation is ongoing, and additional details, including whether formal charges have been filed, were not immediately available.