Case Study:

How ALTO Helped Prosecutors Secure Felony Pleas in LEGO Theft Case

In a major Northern California retail crime case, ALTO partnered with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and a national retail chain to secure accountability against a serial shoplifter responsible for stealing nearly $25,000 in high-demand merchandise, including LEGO products. Known in the media as the “LEGO Thief,” the defendant targeted multiple Bay Area retail locations, exploiting quick grab-and-go thefts that placed stores, employees, and communities at risk.

Challenge

Large-scale organized retail theft often spans multiple jurisdictions, making prosecution complex. Cases are frequently weakened when witnesses are not available or when critical documentation is not received by the DA. In this case, prosecutors noted that without additional support and coordinating the necessary witnesses, several felony charges could have been dropped at the preliminary hearing.

ALTO’s Role in the LEGO Theft Case

• Witness Coordination: ALTO ensured six employee witnesses from three different stores were available to testify at the preliminary hearing.

• Courtroom Presence: ALTO advocate supported witnesses in court, staying the entire day to provide continuing advocacy.

• Prosecutor Collaboration: ALTO worked side-by-side with the Contra Costa DA’s Office including through the DA’s efforts to secure the presence of the employee witnesses from multiple stores, and acting as a liaison between the DA office and witnesses to ensure that the DAs are provided with the witnesses and documentation they need to move the case forward.

• Ongoing Case Management: ALTO continued its partnership and collaboration with the retailer and the DA’s team throughout including when the case was being prepared for Jury Trial, ensuring there were no gaps in communication or witness coordination. ALTO assisted the DA’s office in securing the numerous witnesses needed for the jury trial.

• Constant Updates: ALTO, at every step, kept the retailer apprised. The affected retailer expressed appreciation for ALTO “always being available” and providing them with updates faster than they can ask for.

Results

• Defendant held to answer on all charges at the preliminary hearing

• Guilty plea entered to four felony counts one week before trial

• Sentenced to four years of supervision: two years in custody and two years under mandatory supervision

• Ordered to pay $9,387.95 in restitution to the retailer.

• Criminal protective order issued, banning the offender from multiple retail locations: Walnut Creek, Fremont, and San Ramon.

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The Expanding Footprint of Retail Violence
Retail Violence Is Spreading Beyond Store Walls

By the D&D Daily staff

Retailers and law enforcement officials are warning that workplace violence connected to retail crime is no longer confined to sales floors or checkout lanes — it’s following employees and offenders beyond the store itself.

Incidents once considered “in-store” threats are increasingly extending to parking lots, delivery docks, and even off-duty settings. According to recent incident data shared by multiple Organized Retail Crime Associations (ORCAs), a growing share of assaults tied to theft apprehensions or disputes now occur just outside retail properties — sometimes minutes or hours after an initial encounter inside the store.

Experts say the shift is being driven by two converging factors: repeat offenders who are more likely to retaliate when identified, and employees or security teams who attempt to de-escalate incidents that don’t end at the door. “We’re seeing more secondary confrontations — someone leaves angry, comes back, or waits in the parking lot,” one major-chain asset protection director told The D&D Daily. “It’s changing how we define a ‘store-related’ event.”

The issue is also emerging in logistics and fulfillment settings. As organized groups target warehouses and last-mile hubs, security personnel are encountering more aggressive behavior in places that previously focused on theft prevention, not personal safety.

Retailers are responding with a broader definition of workplace violence training, emphasizing post-incident protocols, vehicle-exit safety, and coordination with local law enforcement. Some companies are revisiting escort policies and installing additional cameras that monitor parking areas rather than just store interiors.

Industry analysts warn that the expanding footprint of violence means prevention must evolve beyond traditional sales-floor awareness campaigns. “The threat perimeter is growing,” one retail security consultant said. “Safety doesn’t end at the sliding doors anymore.”

As the retail sector continues to grapple with organized theft and rising aggression, leaders say redefining what counts as a workplace violence event — and where it happens — may be key to protecting employees and customers alike.


Less Civility, More Violence Impacting Businesses
Beyond Incivility: The Soaring Business Cost of America's Deteriorating Civility

The business impact of rising incivility in the U.S.

The Executive Council Beyond Civility report analyzes the rise of incivility and negative behaviors in the U.S. since 2019, highlighting their significant costs to productivity, safety, and employee well-being. It details how these trends manifest across workplaces and public spaces, affecting organization performance and security response, which can tax law enforcement resources as well.

• Declining civility and safety perceptions: Workers increasingly view society as uncivil, with failing civility scores and rising public anxiety about crime. Many employees doubt employer safety measures, and companies have adopted costly reactive security tactics such as body cameras and altered operating hours.

• Incivility as the workplace norm: Rude behaviors and customer aggression have grown, contributing to disengagement, absenteeism, reputational harm, and turnover. Online harassment and organizational stress exacerbate these issues, especially post-pandemic.

• Rude defiance causing financial losses: Increases in shoplifting, organized crime, and fraud, including tech-enabled scams, along-side policy violations have hurt productivity and safety. Businesses invest in loss prevention employee support, with retail and hospitality notably affected.

• Rising threats and violence: Elevated violent and hate crime persist, with growing workplace violence and executive threats prompting higher security spending. Even perceived threats impact psychological safety, and recruitment, and liability expense.

You may download the report here. 

The Security Executive Council offers research and advice in security risk mitigation solutions. Our clients have included universities, nonprofits, the FBI, and startups through Fortune 500 companies. The vast majority of our team held corporate security leadership positions, along with former chiefs of police and other law enforcement agencies such as the Secret Service.


Shoplifting 'For the Thrill of It'?
The rise of middle-class shoplifters stealing just for 'the thrill'

Police say a surprising demographic of shoplifters has emerged who do not 'need' the stolen items, amid Britain's shoplifting crisis.

In-store footage shows brazen thieves stealing from John Lewis as ‘middle class’ shoplifters increasingly target high-end shops, say police. The latest footage released by the constabulary highlights a perceived wider problem of middle-class shoplifters, which has emerged in recent years.

Offenders risk lifetime bans from shops and criminal convictions with the UK experiencing a 22% rise in shoplifting this year, when compared to 2024.

Police can also apply for criminal behaviour orders (CBOs), preventing them from entering areas where they have previously committed crime. Many middle-class thieves are motivated by increased costs in retail and groceries but others do so just for the "thrill" say officers.

Cambridgeshire Police Constable Emily-Jayne Matthews said many thefts in Cambridge were by the older, middle class with nice houses.

"These aren’t people stealing out of necessity, they’re people in professional jobs, taking high-end items like clothing and perfume, simply for the thrill,” PC Matthews told ITV News Anglia. uk.news.yahoo.com


Detroit crime falls: Data shows record drop in violent crime in 2025

Memphis crime stats from local and federal agencies tell different stories