An Australian man is facing theft charges after police uncovered a 'significant' trove of Lego and toys worth $250,000 (£120,800; $163,400) allegedly stolen from department stores in Adelaide. About 2,500 items, including 1,700 unopened boxes of Lego, were found when South Australian police raided a Royal Park home on Saturday. The haul - which police say was going to be sold online - was the largest seized during an operation targeting retail theft in the state, and so big that extra officers were called in to help remove the loot, which filled three truck loads. The 41-year-old man charged over the stash will appear in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 30 September. Apart from the Lego, other stolen items included soft toys, water guns and toy trucks from brands such as Pokémon, Barbie, Hello Kitty, and Thomas the Tank Engine. John De Candia from South Australia Police stated, 'The size of the haul is significant and indicates the depth of the alleged offending.' He emphasized that the operation aims to catch repeat offenders and those who use violence and threats in theft. As the stolen items were believed to be bound for online sales, police urged consumers to avoid purchasing cheap goods from the web. 'This type of theft is not victimless,' De Candia said. 'Those who purchase cheap goods from online sites are unwittingly facilitating this crime and we would urge them to consider this.' Police reported a drop in shop thefts in South Australia, with about 2,500 arrests linked to their operations. Retail crime has surged globally, with reports of customer theft rising sharply in the UK, costing retailers an estimated £2 billion.