A 28-year-old man was arrested on Friday, Oct. 31, after stealing thousands of dollars worth of Lego merchandise from Target stores across North Texas over the past two months, police said.
Watauga Police officers responded to a theft about 5 p.m., at a Target store located at 8000 Denton Highway, police said in a news release.
Store employees told officers that a man, later identified as 28-years-old Winston Love, had stolen Lego merchandise worth more than $1,200 and fled before officers arrived, police said.
Officers found Love a short time later, inside a home where he had been staying, police said.
After a brief standoff with police Love surrendered and was taken into custody.
Love faces a state felony theft charge and was found to have eight outstanding felony warrants for theft-related offenses from multiple jurisdictions, including Tarrant, Dallas, and Rockwall counties, police said.
He was transported to the North Richland Hills Detention Center, police said.
Watauga police searched Love’s home on Saturday and found more stolen property, illegal drugs and seized a vehicle and about $5,000 in cash, police said.
Love is accused of committing 23 thefts from Target stores in other cities including Dallas, Irving, Plano, Fort Worth, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Frisco, Grapevine, Euless, Arlington, Mansfield, Temple, and Harker Heights, in the past two months, police said.
The thefts are estimated to total over $37,000, police said.
Investigators determined that Love is part of an organized retail theft ring operating in Texas and Oklahoma, many of the cases involving stolen Lego merchandise, police said.
“This case highlights the excellent work and collaboration between our officers and regional law enforcement partners,” Watauga Police Chief James R. Lewis III said in the release. “Their swift actions and thorough investigation not only led to the arrest of a serial offender but also to the recovery of stolen property. Retail thefts impact everyone in our community, and the Watauga Police Department remains committed to protecting both people and property to ensure our city stays a safe place to live, work, and play.”
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as evidence is processed, police said.
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