Legos Bandit Caught, Another One Sought In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —One Legos bandit is behind bars. Another one is being sought.

The Bensalem Township Police Department said it has charged a man with stealing Legos, one of several thieves police have dubbed recently as “Legos Bandits.”

Richard Briggs, 30, of Philadelphia was arraigned Friday before District Judge Michael Gallagher on a half-dozen misdemeanor charges of retail theft and corruption of a minor in three separate shoplifting incidents at the same Target store.

He was sent to Bucks County Correctional Center in lieu of 10 percent of $40,000 bail.

Meanwhile, Bensalem Police are investigating a retail theft that occurred at Barnes and Noble last Friday. See the suspect below

Police said that at 4:30 p.m., a man entered the store in the Neshaminy Mall and stole a box of Legos valuing $100.

He then fled the area without paying for the merchandise.

Anyone with information regarding his identity should submit an anonymous tip via CrimeWatch or contact Bensalem Police at 215-63-3719.

Briggs is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of the classic toys starting a few days before Christmas last year, Bensalem police said. In each alleged theft, he had a child with him.

In early April, Bensalem police responded to a report of a shoplifter at the chain store in the 800 block of Rockhill Road where they learned a man with a girl entered the store, headed straight to the Lego aisle, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The man loaded his shopping cart with nearly $750 worth of the popular classic toys and then left the store without paying, police said.

The store security officer told police a man matching the same description as the alleged toy thief stole $429 worth of Legos a few months earlier.

The man was in the store shortly before Christmas with the same girl and was observed putting Lego sets in a shopping cart, and then concealing them under a heavy winter coat before leaving the store without paying.

Sgt. Glenn Vandegrift told Patch Tuesday that Legos became a hot commodity during the pandemic.

"They were very popular during the Covid lockdown as very collectible items," he said. "They are a target of thieves. They have a high resale value. And if they are taking them and paying zero dollars, then they are making money."