<div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-0"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-ac37hb evys1bk0">A California man cooked up a scheme that called for buying thousands of dollars worth of Lego kits, replacing Lego pieces and minifigures with bags of uncooked pasta, and returning the sets to stores for refunds, the police said on Thursday.</p><p class="css-ac37hb evys1bk0">The man, Jarrelle Augustine, 28, of Paramount, Calif., was charged with grand theft after he gained about $34,000 in the fraudulent transactions, <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/4216632121919705" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">the Irvine Police Department said on social media</a>.</p><p class="css-ac37hb evys1bk0">The department store Target reported at least 70 thefts across the country that were tied to Mr. Augustine, the police said. Target did not immediately return a request for comment on Saturday.</p></div><aside aria-label="companion column" class="css-ew4tgv"></aside></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-1"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-1"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-ac37hb evys1bk0">Mr. Augustine was booked into the Orange County jail, and has since been released, according to jail records. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer.</p><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure aria-label="media" class="img-sz-small css-10c0f8t e1g7ppur0" role="group"><div class="css-zgakxe erfvjey0" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><span class="kyt-mdd4r">Image</span><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"><div data-testid="lazyimage-container" style="height:579.538583929992px"></div></div></div><figcaption class="css-13ytnnu ewdxa0s0" data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption"><span class="css-jevhma e13ogyst0">Bags of Goya elbow-shaped pasta were used to replace Lego pieces in kits that were returned to stores, the police said.</span><span class="css-iwa86d e1z0qqy90"><span class="kyt-mdd4r">Credit...</span><span><span aria-hidden="false">Irvine Police Department</span></span></span></figcaption></figure></div><p class="css-ac37hb evys1bk0">One photo posted by the police shows an instruction book to a Star Wars Venator-Class Attack Cruiser, which retails for $79.99.</p><div class="css-kbghgg"><div class="css-121kum4"><div class="css-171d1bw"></div><div class="css-asuuk5"><noscript><div class="css-7axq9l" data-testid="optimistic-truncator-noscript"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="css-1b5b8u1" data-tpl="i" height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24"><path clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2.5 12a9.5 9.5 0 1 1 19 0 9.5 9.5 0 0 1-19 0Zm8.5 1.75v-7.5h2v7.5h-2Zm0 2v2h2v-2h-2Z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg><div class="css-6yo1no" data-testid="optimistic-truncator-noscript-message"><p class="css-3kpklk" data-tpl="t">We are having trouble retrieving the article content.</p><p class="css-3kpklk" data-tpl="t">Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.</p></div></div></noscript><div class="css-1dv1kvn" id="optimistic-truncator-a11y" tabindex="-1"><hr/><p>Thank you for your patience while we verify access. 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