Dilworth Man Charged in $969 Lego Theft Case

Dilworth (trfnews.i234.me) — A Dilworth man faces a gross misdemeanor theft charge involving nearly $1,000 worth of Lego sets.

Carl Romell Crater, 25, is charged with theft in Clay County District Court.

Prosecutors allege merchandise worth $969.55 was taken from the Dilworth Walmart without payment.

The alleged theft happened during the afternoon of June 23, 2026.

Cart Allegedly Filled With Lego Sets

Dilworth police received a theft report the following day, according to the criminal complaint.

Walmart asset protection staff reported that a man entered the store around 4:51 p.m.

The man allegedly filled a shopping cart with several Lego sets.

Prosecutors say he then left the store without paying for the merchandise.

Store staff valued the Lego sets at a combined $969.55.

Investigators later obtained security video showing the person involved in the incident.

The complaint says police used Clearview AI while reviewing images from the store’s surveillance footage.

The system returned Crater as a possible match, according to the complaint.

An investigator then compared the surveillance images with a recent booking photograph of Crater.

The investigator concluded the person shown in the video was Crater, prosecutors allege.

The complaint does not describe any additional physical evidence linking Crater to the merchandise.

It also does not state whether the Lego sets were later recovered.

Crater is charged under Minnesota’s general theft statute.

The count alleges he took property without the owner’s consent.

Prosecutors further allege he intended to permanently deprive the owner of the property.

The gross misdemeanor charge carries up to 364 days in jail.

It also carries a possible fine of up to $3,000.

The case is filed as Clay County court file 14-CR-26-2587.

Readers can review Minnesota Statute 609.52 regarding theft offenses.

Additional court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

The charge is an allegation and has not been proven in court.

Crater is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.