$10K Lego, Toy Bust In RivCo 'Part Of Organized Theft Ring' Hemet Police Say

HEMET, CA — The Hemet Police Department has arrested one man on suspicion of organized retail theft involving $10,000 worth of Lego sets and other toys this week.

On Wednesday, the Hemet Police Department’s Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Team, in collaboration with the Southwest Cities SWAT, served a search warrant at a residence in the 300 block of South Gilbert Street in the City of Hemet.

Department spokesperson Judith Gibson shared that investigators were seeking a "large quantity of expensive LEGO sets and other merchandise that were being stolen from local retailers."

Hugo Omar Sanchez-Sanchez, 37, was identified as the prime suspect in the search. He was taken into custody during the warrant search and booked into the Southwest Detention Center. He will appear in court on June 23 to answer felony charges of Possession of Stolen Property and Organized Theft.

During the Organized Retail Theft investigation, Sanchez-Sanchez was spotted at a local swap meet where his activity was consistent with an organized theft operation," investigators revealed. They confirmed that he was "actively purchasing stolen goods from multiple individuals and reselling them for a profit," according to the department's news release.

Upon serving the Gilbert Street warrant, officers recovered approximately $10,000 worth of stolen merchandise.

Recovered items included Star Wars-themed sets, Lego Friends sets, Duplo Legos, Technic sets, numerous race cars and Hotwheels, as well as boxed Disney princess dolls, Funko Pop dolls, and power tools.

Hemet Police Chief Michael Arellano spoke on the operation and the arrest.

“This operation sends a clear message that organized retail theft will not be tolerated in the City of Hemet. By recovering this stolen merchandise and returning it to our local businesses, we are not only holding offenders accountable but also helping to reduce the financial impact these crimes have on our business partners,” Arellano said. "The Hemet Police Department remains committed to protecting local businesses and consumers from the impacts of retail crime."

The Organized Retail Theft Team, funded through a State of California grant provided by the Board of State and Community Corrections, will continue to conduct proactive enforcement operations to deter and prevent organized retail theft.

"It’s a myth that you won’t get caught for committing retail theft," the department shared. "In 2023, California made its largest-ever investment to crack down on organized retail theft. As a direct result, local law enforcement agencies arrested 29,060 suspects between October 2023 and September 2025, with no signs of slowing down."

Hemet is one of 38 communities where state grants are helping increase and enhance prevention, investigations, arrests and prosecution to ensure no one gets away with organized retail theft.

Follow our zero-tolerance initiative at fightretailtheft.org.

Anyone with information regarding organized retail theft is encouraged to contact the Hemet Police Department at (951) 765-2400 or submit anonymous tips through the Department’s smartphone application.