crime

Police apprehend the 'Lego Kid' and accomplices

18 Comments
By SoraNews24

Aside from their intrinsic value as entertaining and educational toys, there has been a growing interest in Lego brand blocks as a lucrative investment, given sets’ relatively low fungibility. Unfortunately this has also made them targets for thieves.

That recently became a problem for one toy store inside a mall in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward. The store had was repeatedly the victim of a shoplifter who took several toys but mainly focused on the world-famous blocks, thus earning him the nickname “Lego Kid” among the staff.

But as with any repeat offender, it’s only a matter of time before they get caught. On June 24, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police took the alleged Lego Kid, 24-year-old Naoto Daitoku, into custody for the theft of 12 toys on the evening of Dec 16, 2021. It’s unclear how law enforcement was able to finally track down the Lego Kid, but they also arrested two accomplices aged 19 and 17.

▼ A news report on the arrest

Daitoku and the 17-year-old suspect have denied the charges of shoplifting the 55,000 yen worth of toys, saying they “don’t remember.” However, the 19-year-old is said to be cooperating with police and reportedly admitted that all three of them stole the goods and sold everything afterwards.

One of the suspects also told investigators that the three of them became acquainted through being fellow toritetsu a subset of train otaku who enjoy taking photographs of rolling stock. This revelation no doubt comes as another blow to the much maligned toritetsu community, members of which appear to be regularly implicated in acts of violence, trespassing, and generally rude behavior.

In fact, a majority of the comments online seemed to focus on the suspect’s involvement in train photography, which is surprising since we’re talking about the LEGO KID here!

“Just when you thought the reputation of toritetsu couldn’t get any worse.”

“He stole to fund his…train photography addiction?”

“‘The Lego Kid (24)’ LOL!!!”

“It’s embarrassing enough being a 24-year-old who steals Lego, but he’s a toritetsu on top of it all?”

“What’s wrong with you if you’re compelled to steal in order to take pictures of trains?”

“At least that’s three more toritetsu off the platforms.”

“‘Lego Kid’ sounds like a super rare collectable.”

“Just being given that nickname is punishment enough.”

Source: TV Asahi NewsMainichi ShimbunHachima Kiko

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- JR East attempts to unite train-photographing otaku with new social media group

-- If you want your kids to go to elite universities, give them Legos, Japanese study says

-- There’s a Lego Nintendo Entertainment System on the way…and it’s playable?!?

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

18 Comments
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Modern day robin hoods. I wanted to buy Lego for my nephew and niece. It would of cost two months rent, just for machine manufactured plastic. They probably sold for very discounted price, giving lots of kids joy, and parents happy.

-14 ( +4 / -18 )

Pretty sad and petty when you are a yound adult who gets pinched for nicking plastic kid's toys. That guy has some mental issues. I'm glad they arrested the Lego Kid.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

I'm guessing it's Nishiarai Ario. The windows in the video see familiar. Adachi-ku is the poorest of the wards in Tokyo. Sad to start out life with a police record.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Anyone who has stepped on a Lego block before would certainly be in favor of banning these dangerous items.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

“It’s embarrassing enough being a 24-year-old who steals Lego, but he’s a toritetsu on top of it all?”

the truth hurts

1 ( +3 / -2 )

a 24 year old is not a "kid"

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Recently I took the bullet train to Tokyo and I was surprised at the number of photographers standing and waiting to take a photo, I do not recall seeing so many at so many stations, then they all almost disappeared as soon as we started getting closer to Tokyo or within 30 minutes from Tokyo station.

Some were young and some have kids with them, they did NOT appear to be of any trouble makers at all.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Sheikh YerboabyToday  01:10 pm JST

a 24 year old is not a "kid"

Neither were The Cisco Kid, Billy the Kid, The Sundance Kid etc.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

He will have plenty of time to play with his Lego toys in solitary Confinement.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Have you seen the prices of Legos?! Can't blame him.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I'm glad the police were able to piece everything together, so that the kid couldn't Lego.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Weird as, these days with 3d printing you can DIY your own Lego sets just download the instructions for the Lego and it details the exact number of pieces you need... I have made dozens of old sets that are no longer produced and since most of their original patents have long passed it isn't illegal (unless you make a piece that is new then that could be covered)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A fitting penalty would be to blindfold him and make him walk barefoot across a hard wood floor scattered with Lego bricks.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Next is the movie...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The people who are calling Lego as just "kids plastic toys" definitely haven't seen the big ones, mostly for (adult) star wars fans, but also for car fans etc. And they start at over 20.000 Yen per set for the smaller ones. Thank you but no thank you.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Its amazing how all three suspects have denied the charges of shoplifting the 55,000 yen worth of toys, saying they “don’t remember.” Its either I was drinking or I don't remember as a statement when getting arrested.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I have always found trainspotters to be a pleasant, cheerful and friendly bunch, in the UK and in Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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