BARSTOW, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy recovered 123 boxes of stolen McLaren F1 LEGO sets valued at more than $28,000 after finding them inside an abandoned van Monday evening, authorities said.
On August 17, at about 11:23 p.m., Deputy Rivera from the Barstow Sheriff’s Station conducted a vehicle check on an abandoned van located at National Trails Highway and Pioneer Road in Newberry Springs.
The van was unoccupied and Deputy Rivera observed a large number of boxes inside the van that were suspected to have been stolen during a recent train burglary. Rivera contacted BNSF Police for assistance identifying the contents of the boxes.
BNSF Police determined the boxes were connected to a recent boxcar burglary and took possession of the recovered property, according to the Sheriff’s Station.
Authorities said the van contained 123 boxes of McLaren F1 LEGO sets valued at approximately $230 each, bringing the total estimated value of the recovered merchandise to $28,290.
“Great job by Deputy Rivera for recognizing the potential connection and taking the extra step to contact BNSF Police,” the Barstow Sheriff’s Station said in its written statement.
The agency added, “This is another example of how attentive patrol work can help recover stolen property and connect the dots between seemingly unrelated incidents.”
The statement did not provide information about how the van came to be abandoned, whether any suspects had been identified or whether arrests had been made.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Barstow Station at 760-256-4838. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call or text REPORT to We-Tip at 844-909-3006. Online reporting is also available at: https://mobile.catapultems.com/sbcsd/Sites
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