She sets fire to her store under the guise of a gambling addiction

Under the guise of a gambling addiction, a 36-year-old woman set fire to the Lego store where she worked, in order to hide evidence of her repeated thefts. After stealing some $21,000 worth of Lego – not to mention the almost $60,000 embezzled before that – this Australian woman decided to make a drastic decision.

She steals Legos and cash

Laura Jean Richards was manager of a Lego store in a suburb north of Brisbane, Australia. She embezzled $59,528 from saleswhich she chose not to deposit in the bank. These repeated thefts took place between June and August 2020.

When her management became aware of certain financial anomalies, Richards falsified bank emails and claimed a fault with the ATMs. After realizing the lack of credibility of her version, she chose to attempt a destruction of evidence.

Prior to this, Richards had also stolen some 40 boxes of Lego for a total of $21,000.

Gambling addiction drives her to act

On the morning of August 19, 2020, she infiltrated the store before it opened with a bag containing petrol, kerosene and matches. Disguised in a woollen bonnet, she entered to douse the premises in petrol and set fire to it. The fire burned down part of the store, creating $70,000 in damage. Adjacent stores were also affected.

Afterwards, she changed into her work uniform and returned to see the damage. Lacking discretion, she was soon accused and confessed to stealing the legosnot the money she gradually cashed in her account.

To explain her actions, Richards confessed to her gambling addictionwhich drove her to steal to gamble. She has paid off some of her debts, but still has $10,000 to pay.

Judgment postponed pending psychiatric report.