“The Lego Bandit” has been shelved, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office announced after a multiple heists of LEGO sets and a high-speed pursuit of a U-Haul.
Ronald Lorne Tipton Jr., 35, was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 15, on 10 counts including coordinating others in retail theft over $3,000, dealing in stolen property, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing with injury or damage, possession of controlled substances and driving under the influence. He remained in jail Sept. 16 in lieu of $270,000 bail.
It began with a Nassau County Sheriff’s Office detective investigating a theft at Target on Florida 200 in Yulee and uncovering a larger, organized retail theft operation spanning Northeast Florida. The group targeted high-dollar
LEGO sets, often filling shopping carts with merchandise before pushing them through emergency exits without paying. A getaway vehicle was typically staged outside.
At least four occurred in Nassau County on Aug. 18, Aug. 26, Sept. 12 and Sept. 15.
The Sheriff's Office provided the following accounts involving the suspect:
On Aug. 18 at approximately 8:25 p.m., the suspect entered Target and went to the toy department, selected four high-dollar LEGO sets and proceeded toward an exit. The total loss was about $900.
On Aug. 26 at approximately 8 p.m., the suspect entered Target once again. He was captured on surveillance selecting multiple LEGO sets and placing them into shopping carts before leaving the store. He was then observed loading the unpaid merchandise into a white Mazda before fleeing. The combined loss from the this Target incidents was around $2,500.
On Sept. 12, investigators were alerted to another theft involving the suspect at Target. He allegedly returned to the store and stole five high-priced LEGO sets, again placing them in a shopping cart and leaving through a fire exit before getting into a vehicle staged nearby. The combined loss from the third Target incident was just under $1,300.
The investigation continued on Sept. 15, when the suspect was accused of being involved in another theft at the Walmart on Florida 200.
Shortly before 4 p.m., he entered Walmart and was captured on surveillance in the toy aisles, where he appeared to observe the available LEGO sets. He then left the store and entered a U-Haul truck staged behind the business.
He re-entered the store and selected 12 LEGO sets. When he attempted to leave with the merchandise, he was confronted by Walmart’s asset protection team and fled the store.
A Sheriff's Office investigator spotted him traveling on a service road toward the former Chick-fil-A building. The investigator activated his emergency lights and positioned his vehicle in front of the U-Haul.
As the detective attempted to open the driver’s door to detain the suspect, Tipton attempted to flee and struck the detective in the left arm with the open door. The U-Haul was then driven in an erratic and dangerous manner, leading to a vehicle pursuit.
The pursuit continued into the area of Sadler Road in Fernandina Beach, where the U-Haul entered the parking lot of Beach Diner and then continued into the CVS parking lot. A deputy was able to immobilize the U-Haul by pinning it against a tree with a patrol vehicle. Fernandina Beach Police Department assisted in taking Tipton into custody. Suspected methamphetamine, crack cocaine and fentanyl were also recovered.
Investigators noted that Tipton has distinctive tattoos on his right arm, including a marijuana leaf, which was also visible in surveillance footage.
Investigators have linked the case to additional organized retail thefts throughout Northeast Florida, with the combined value of stolen merchandise exceeding $20,000.
Sheriff Bill Leeper said the case demonstrates the importance of investigators following the evidence beyond a single retail theft.
“What may start as a single retail theft can sometimes uncover something much bigger," Leeper said. "Our detectives followed the evidence, connected the dots and worked with our law enforcement partners to put a suspect involved in these thefts behind bars. We will continue working with our retail partners and other agencies to hold organized thieves accountable.”
Scott Butler has been an editor/reporter specializing in public safety coverage for 26 years with The Florida Times-Union. He can be reached at sbutler@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Deputies break up heists at Target, Walmart and nab 'Lego Bandit'
