From Arizona to New York , alleged thieves are turning those tiny iconic plastic interlocking bricks you grew up with into cold , hard cash . On New York 's Long Island on Friday , a 53-year-old woman was arraigned on grand larceny charges for allegedly stealing about $ 60,000 worth of Lego sets and trying to sell them on eBay , the Nassau County Police Department said in a statement . Gloria Haas was arrested Thursday after allegedly stealing 800 sets of the 80-year-old toys from a Long Island storage facility and moving them to a facility in another town , police said . She had intended to sell the toys on eBay , officials said . It was not known whether Haas has an attorney and she was not immediately available for comment Saturday . Authorities are not saying , but alleged thieves could be capitalizing on the enduring popularity of the simple little bricks which generated $ 1.1 billion in profits last year for the Danish toymaker . `` The Lego Movie , '' which was released in February , made $ 69 million in its opening weekend and has grossed more than $ 250 million so far , according to Box Office Mojo . In Phoenix , police arrested four people allegedly involved in an elaborate Lego theft scheme , according to CNN affiliate KPHO . After the arrests , police spent 10 hours Friday loading onto trucks more than $ 250,000 worth of Lego sets stored in a garage , KPHO reported . At least $ 40,000 worth of the Legos are believed to have been stolen , CNN Phoenix affiliate KNXV reported . `` It 's hard to believe that two or three people could be taking that much product out of the store , and yet they were , '' officer James Holmes told KNXV . A real estate professional , another man and two women were arrested in connection with the scheme , according to KHPO . It was not clear Saturday whether they had attorneys . Police said one man bought expensive Lego sets at a discount from shoplifters and resold them online . Each of the play sets taken were valued at $ 100 or more , police said . The suspect allegedly recruited accomplices to go to Toys R Us stores to steal Lego sets , KPHO reported . The boxes in which the toys came would be damaged and turned over to the online seller , who would return to the store and buy a new set , the station reported . The online seller later allegedly used the real receipt for the purchase to return the damaged box set . He pocketed the money and sold the stolen Lego sets online to collectors , KPHO reported . The suspects were arrested on charges that include organized retail theft , trafficking in stolen property , fraudulent schemes and illegal control of an enterprise , police said . CNN left a message Saturday for officer Holmes .
Gloria Haas , 53 , is involved in theft of about $ 60,000 worth of Lego sets , police say . In Phoenix , police arrest 4 women allegedly involved in elaborate Lego theft scheme . Alleged to be on popularity of little bricks which generate $ 1.1 million in profits .